Abstract
Objective: A 34-year-old woman with a history of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma developed fever and abdominal tenderness, and a 67Ga scan was obtained to exclude a source of infection.
Methods: Whole-body planar images and a SPECT study of the abdomen were obtained using 67Ga citrate.
Results: The planar images at 48 hr after injection showed a focus of intense activity which appeared to be in the gallbladder fossa, raising the possibility of cholecystitis or a subhepatic abscess. A SPECT study of the abdomen was inconclusive in distinguishing the focus from bowel activity. However, delayed images at 72 hr after injection demonstrated movement of activity in the bowel and clearance of the suspicious focus.
Conclusion: Bowel activity of 67Ga citrate imposes severe limitations on the diagnosis of abdominal infection. Delayed imaging is the best way to differentiate abscess or other infections from localized bowel accumulation.