Scintigraphic demonstration of abscesses with radioactive gallium labeled leukocytes.

Autologous peripheral blood leukocytes, labeled in vitro with 67Ga citrate, have been studied in 20 patients as a radioactive carrier for the scintigraphic visualization of septic inflammatory areas. 67Ga citrate was added to venous whole blood; following incubation, the blood was centrifugated, and the packed cells were reinfused. Scintiscans were obtained four and 24 hours later. The inflammatory process was demonstrated in nine of nine patients with confirmed sepsis. Eleven patients without sepsis had normal scans. There were no false-negative scans and one-false-positive scan. The selective accumulation of the gallium labeled leukocytes in areas of septic inflammation was sufficient to allow scintigraphic demonstration of the inflammatory area.