The role of Ga-67 citrate imaging and diagnostic ultrasound in patients with suspected abdominal abscesses.

Fifty patients with suspected abdominal abscesses were examined by [67Ga[ Gallium citrate imaging and abdominal sonography. Fifteen of the patients had a proven intra-abdominal abscess; Gallium-67 images were positive in 13 (87%), while the sonogram detected the abscess in 11 (73%). Nineteen patients had true-negative radionuclide images and sonography, and one had a false-positive result by both procedures. The remaining 15 patients did not have abdominal abscesses, but did have other abnormalities (e.g., pyelonephritis, extra-abdominal sites of inflammation) which were detected by the nuclide study. Gallium-67 imaging and abdominal ultrasound have similar sensitivity for detection of abdominal abscesses. A significant advantage of Gallium imaging is its ability to detect other inflammatory foci (both within and outside the abdomen).