The complementary role of gallium citrate imaging and computed tomography in the evaluation of suspected abdominal infection.

Fifteen patients with a suspected abdominal abscess were examined by both gallium-67 and computed tomographic scanning. The Ga-67 scan was a useful screening examination, correctly identifying all eight cases of infection, whereas the CT scan missed one case of a pericecal phlegmon. Misdiagnosis of infection by Ga-67 scan occurred in 2/8 cases without infection but the CT scan correctly identified all noninfected patients. While this series is too small to decide whether there is significant difference in the ability of the two procedures to suggest the correct diagnosis, it is felt that Ga-67 and subsequent CT scans may be complementary in that a Ga-67 scan can initially locate the abnormality and thus direct the CT scan, which can confirm the diagnosis or avoid a misinterpretation of the Ga-67 scan. Computed tomography also provides more anatomical detail, better location of the lesion, and demonsrates lesions noninfectious in nature.