Question 1

hello doctors, what does a nm gallium scan entail?

Accepted Answer

Imaging several days: Gallium 67 citrate, isotope, injected intravenously for detection of infection/ tumor and some diseases like sarcoidosis.Patient imaged at 24/48/72 hours after injection.Depending on where problem, different parts of body imaged. Ga not very specific. Not used as frequently as previously with development of nuclear tagged white blood cells ;pet/ct scanning.Bowel excretion may interfere abdom images.

Question 2

what will a gallium scan show that an mri doesn't?

Accepted Answer

More function: Mri is more anatomic in detecting configuration of soft tissues and extent of disease. Sometimes not able to entirely  differentiate infection from tumor or infarction of bone. Gallium may be used sometimes to detect infection. However not specific accumulating in infection, some tumors, and inflammatory conditions. Nuclear tagged white blood cells are usually more specific for infection.

Question 3

is a lymphangiogram & gallium scan good for diagnosing lymphoma?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosing no: Staging yes. Ie determining the extent of disease. Lymphangiography is never done now, and gallium is largely replaced by modern imaging modalities.

Question 4

how accurate and realiable is a gallium scan for diagnosing lymphoma and other kinds of cancer?

Accepted Answer

not diagnostic: The only truly accurate diagnosis is a biopsy. That gallium can reveal abnormalities suggestive of infection or tumor but you need a biopsy to be sure.

Question 5

hello docs, is a gallium scan the same as a bone scan?

Accepted Answer

No: Gallium scanning involves greater irradiation and is non specific for tumor, infection , and bone abnormalities. Low radiation bone scan is specifically for osseous problems such as fractures, metastatic disease to bone, avascular necrosis, some metabolic bone issues, etc.Patient with unknown source of fever or pain and multifocal disease  usually helped by bone scan.

Question 6

hello docs, is a full body bone scan like a gallium scan?

Accepted Answer

No: Gallium scanning involves greater irradiation and is non specific for tumor, infection , and bone abnormalities. Low radiation bone scan is specifically for osseous problems such as fractures, metastatic disease to bone, avascular necrosis, some metabolic bone issues, etc.Patient with unknown source of fever or pain and multifocal disease  usually helped by bone scan.

Question 7

i have a history of osteomylitis and it showed up on gallium scan before, why did my doctor order a bone scan?

Accepted Answer

Ask your doctor: Gallium is sometimes used to detect active or chronic infection. Gallium not specific can have uptake in tumors and trauma. It does not tell much about healing of bone. Bone scan is more specific for bone metabolism including infection fracture, repair. The degree of uptake usually determines activity of process. Lot of people use tagged white blood cells for detecting infection, more specific.

Question 8

what can a kidney scan show?

Accepted Answer

Function, scars, obs: Renal scans can be very helpful to give differential kidney function.  They can give us information about renal scars from previous infections and help us differentiate if a kidney is obstructed or not.  The degree of obstruction can be determined with a scan.  There are different nuclear scan isotopes and history of the problem will dictate  which one is needed to answer the questi
hope this help.

Question 9

what does a kidney scan usually involve?

Accepted Answer

Nuclear vs us: A nuclear medicine scan of kidneys involves intravenous injection of isotope that is extracted from blood stream by kidneys either for determination of function, scarring, or obstruction of kidneys.Different isotopes such as Tc99m MAG3 for excretion and Tc99m DMSA for scarring are used.Kidneys for anatomic imaging can utilize renal ultrasound. Nuclear medicine is for function.

Question 10

how much nudity is involved during a kidney scan?

Accepted Answer

Shirtless...?: Scanning the kidneys with ultrasound will require one to expose the mid-abdomen and directly touch the skin with the us probe and gel. For ct or mri, one will most likely be wearing a hospital gown.

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Doctor answers about:

Kidney gallium scan

A member asked:

Hello doctors, what does a nm gallium scan entail?

A member asked:

What will a gallium scan show that an mri doesn't?

A member asked:

Is a lymphangiogram & gallium scan good for diagnosing lymphoma?

A member asked:

How accurate and realiable is a gallium scan for diagnosing lymphoma and other kinds of cancer?

A member asked:

Hello docs, is a gallium scan the same as a bone scan?

A member asked:

Hello docs, is a full body bone scan like a gallium scan?

A member asked:

I have a history of osteomylitis and it showed up on gallium scan before, why did my doctor order a bone scan?

A member asked:

What can a kidney scan show?

A member asked:

What does a kidney scan usually involve?

A member asked:

How much nudity is involved during a kidney scan?

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