Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Diabetic foot other imaging findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
A bone scan and a white blood cell scan are two imaging modalities that can be used to assist physicians to better diagnose the diabetic foot ulcerations. Both could be used when there is a high clinical suspicion for osteomyelitis, while plain X-rays are negative. A leukocyte or white blood cell scan has a higher specificity for ostemyelitis diagnosis and is accurate even in neuropathic patients, in contrast to the bone scan.
Other Imaging Findings
Other Imaging Findings
Bone Scan
- A bone scan could be used when there is a high clinical suspicion for osteomyelitis, while plain X-rays are negative.[1]
- A bone scan is not accurate in neuropathic patients since it might become falsely positive in the presence of hyperemia or charcot joint.
White Blood Cell Scan
- A leukocyte or a white blood cell scan could be used when there is a high clinical suspicion for osteomyelitis, while plain X-rays are negative.[1][2]
- In contrast to bone scan, it is reliable even in neuropathic patients.
- A leukocyte or a white blood cell scan has a higher specificity for ostemyelitis diagnosis compared to the bone scan.
References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lipsky BA (1997). “Osteomyelitis of the foot in diabetic patients”. Clin Infect Dis. 25 (6): 1318–26. doi:10.1086/516148. PMID 9431370.
- ↑ Giurato L, Meloni M, Izzo V, Uccioli L (2017). “Osteomyelitis in diabetic foot: A comprehensive overview”. World J Diabetes. 8 (4): 135–142. doi:10.4239/wjd.v8.i4.135. PMC 5394733. PMID 28465790.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Anahita Deylamsalehi, M.D.[2]