TC-99M NANOCOLLOID AND TC-99M MDP 3-PHASE BONE IMAGING IN OSTEOMYELITIS AND SEPTIC ARTHRITIS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

The aim of this study was to compare Tc-99m nanocolloid scintigraphy w ith Tc-99m MDP bone imaging in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis and sept ic arthritis. Overall, 31 Tc-99m MDP bone scans and 39 Tc-99m nanocoll oid studies were performed in 34 patients (15 female, 19 male; mean ag e, 14.88 years +/- 19.00 years) who were suspected of osteomyelitis an d/or septic arthritis. The final diagnoses were established by needle aspiration, cultures, radiography, clinical course, and, in some patie nts, with CT, ultrasonography, and biopsy. The sensitivity, specificit y, and accuracy were 100%, 75%, and 92%, respectively for both Tc-99m MDP and Tc-99m nanocolloid scans in detecting osteomyelitis. For septi c arthritis, Tc-99m MDP bone imaging showed 100%, 85%, and 94%, and Tc -99m nanocolloid scans showed 90%, 59%, and 76%, sensitivity, specific ity, and accuracy, respectively. These results show that, although bot h scans are in good agreement for osteomyelitis, for septic arthritis nanocolloid is not specific enough to recommend it to be a complementa ry method to MDP bone scans.