[(123 I)-anti-NCA95 antibodies in diagnosis of bacterial wound infections after prosthetic vascular replacement. Comparison with computerized tomography].

Immunoscintigraphy (IS) with [123I]-anti-NCA95 labelled autologous granulocytes and computer-tomography (CT) examinations were performed in 21 patients with clinical suspicion of a vascular graft infection. The results of both IS and CT were compared with bacteriological and surgical findings. In this study the sensitivity was higher for IS compared with CT (92% and 67%, respectively). However, specificity was lower in IS compared with CT (89% and 100%, respectively). No false positive results have been found in CT. False positive results were observed in IS within 30 days after vascular surgery and may be due to a unspecific accumulation of granulocytes in perivascular hematomas. In later infection of a vascular graft (i.e. more than 30 days after surgery) no false positive findings were made by IS. In contrast, CT was false negative in two cases. IS with [125I]-anti-NCA95 labelled autologous granulocytes represents a useful tool for the detection of vascular graft infection, since granulocyte accumulation in infected tissue can be visualized with high sensitivity and specificity.