Chronic osteomyelitis of the femur: value of PET imaging

The purpose of this report is to discuss FDG-PET as a potentially new imagi ng tool in the diagnosis of infections of osteosynthetic material. We prese nt a patient with a poly-trauma who developed a chronic osteomyelitis and o stitis after repeated osteosynthesis in a fibular transplant to the left fe mur. Work up included MRI, antigranulocyte antibody scintigraphy and positr on emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Infection of the fibular transplant was demonstrated clearly by PET but not by the ot her methods. Positron emission tomography may become an important indicatio n in the diagnosis and follow-up of bone infection.