The role of scintigraphy in the evaluation of fever of unknown origin

Nuclear medicine imaging techniques are an important adjunct to other currently used modalities in the evaluation of patients with fever of unknown origin. Bone scanning performed with technetium-labeled phosphonate agents may identify osteomyelitis when plain radiography fails and may disclose sites of joint inflammation or unsuspected osseous tumor metastasis. Indium-labeled autologous leukocytes localize at sites of inflammation in the same manner as unlabeled leukocytes. Gallium citrate accumulates in areas of inflammation and in some tumors, most notably lymphomas. In most cases, scintigraphy is best used to determine the location of a lesion rather than to specifically identify the pathologic process.