Gallium-67 imaging in abdominal disease.

Gallium-67 imaging is useful for detecting sites of intra-abdominal inflammation, including subphrenic abscesses, postoperative infection, pyelonephritis or perinephric abscesses, and peritonitis. Positive images may be obtained within several hours of injection, but are more reliable at 24 hr. The results may be used to guide ultrasound or computed tomography studies, which give a detailed anatomic picture of the abscess. Gallium-67 imaging has also been used to detect abdominal neoplasms, but results are less impressive. Abdominal lymphoma is detected in just over 50% of sites. Gastrointestinal, renal, and gynecologic neoplasms are detected even less frequently. However, 67Ga is useful for detecting recurrence of 67Ga-avid neoplasms, and has been reliable in detecting hepatomas and nodal spread of seminoma. When used selectively in patients with neoplastic disease and suspected abscesses, 67Ga is an effective method for diagnosing abdominal disease.