Imaging for infection: caution required with the Charcot joint.

Scintigraphic techniques for detecting bone infection can be misleading in neuroarthropathy (Charcot joint). Three patients showed strongly positive three phase bone and 67Ga imaging despite absence of osteitis. Indium labelled white cell imaging provided the correct information on each patient. The findings have important implications for the investigation of diabetic patients with suspected bone infection.