Indium-111 chloride scintigraphy in adult osteomyelitis

Osteomyelitis is a common clinical problem thay may be difficult to diagnose. We compared the performance of indium-111 labeled white cells ([1¹¹In]WBC) to ¹¹¹In chloride ([¹¹¹In]Cl) in two groups of adult patients suspected to have osteomyelitis or septic arthritis. Using ([¹¹¹In]WBC, 52 scans were performed on 51 patients. Nineteen patients had osteomyelitis. The sensitivity was 84% and specificity 82%. Using [¹¹¹In]Cl, 48 scans were performed on 47 patients. Twelve had osteomyelitis. Sensitivity was 91%, and specificity was 89%. In each group, one false-negative study occurred in vertebral osteomyelitis. Three false-negative studies using [¹¹¹In]WBC were due to failure to distinguish between combined bone and soft-tissue infection and soft-tissue infection alone. False-positive studies in both groups were due to overlying soft-tissue infection or inflammatory arthritis. Chi-squared test showed no significant difference in performance between the two agents. Indium-111 chloride is easier to prepare and use than [¹¹¹In]WBC, which requires a time-consuming labeling process.