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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 4/2014

01-04-2014 | Original Article

Image acquisition and interpretation criteria for 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled white blood cell scintigraphy: results of a multicentre study

Authors: Paola A. Erba, Andor W. J. M. Glaudemans, Niels C. Veltman, Martina Sollini, Marta Pacilio, Filippo Galli, Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx, Alberto Signore

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 4/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

There is no consensus yet on the best protocol for planar image acquisition and interpretation of radiolabelled white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy. This may account for differences in reported diagnostic accuracy amongst different centres.

Methods

This was a multicentre retrospective study analysing 235 WBC scans divided into two groups. The first group of scans (105 patients) were acquired with a fixed-time acquisition protocol and the second group (130 patients) were acquired with a decay time-corrected acquisition protocol. Planar images were interpreted both qualitatively and semiquantitatively. Three blinded readers analysed the images.

Results

The most accurate imaging acquisition protocol comprised image acquisition at 3 – 4 h and at 20 – 24 h in time mode with acquisition times corrected for isotope decay.

Conclusion

Using this protocol, visual analysis had high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of infection. Semiquantitative analysis could be used in doubtful cases, with no cut-off for the percentage increase in radiolabelled WBC over time, as a criterion to define a positive scan.
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Metadata
Title
Image acquisition and interpretation criteria for 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled white blood cell scintigraphy: results of a multicentre study
Authors
Paola A. Erba
Andor W. J. M. Glaudemans
Niels C. Veltman
Martina Sollini
Marta Pacilio
Filippo Galli
Rudi A. J. O. Dierckx
Alberto Signore
Publication date
01-04-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 4/2014
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-013-2631-4

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