The role of bone scan and radiography in the diagnostic evaluation of suspected pedal osteomyelitis |
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Authors: | G M Segall M Nino-Murcia T Jacobs K Chang |
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Institution: | Department of Nuclear Medicine, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304. |
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Abstract: | The authors reviewed the three-phase bone scans and radiographs of 24 patients with suspected pedal osteomyelitis who also had histologic confirmation of the diagnosis. Twenty patients had a pedal ulcer, cellulitis, or necrosis. Sensitivity and specificity of bone scanning were 70% and 43% respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of radiography were 70% and 50% respectively. The non-invasive diagnosis of pedal osteomyelitis remains problematic due to the poor specificity of bone scans and radiographs. |
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