Problems in the scintigraphic detection of osteomyelitis.

Bone imaging has played a major role in the early detection of pediatric osteomyelitis. The single gamma camera view (rather than whole body imaging) successfully delineates the growth zones of the long bones and can detect subtle changes in these regions. If a high suspicion of osteomyelitis is entertained despite a normal bone scan, gallium imaging should be employed. Cases have been reported in which delayed scans were normal but the blood pool image was not.