PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Christopher J. Palestro TI - Radionuclide Imaging of Musculoskeletal Infection: A Review AID - 10.2967/jnumed.115.157297 DP - 2016 Sep 01 TA - Journal of Nuclear Medicine PG - 1406--1412 VI - 57 IP - 9 4099 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/57/9/1406.short 4100 - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/57/9/1406.full SO - J Nucl Med2016 Sep 01; 57 AB - There are numerous imaging tests for diagnosing musculoskeletal infection. Radiographs are routinely performed, because even when not diagnostic, they provide an anatomic overview of the region of interest that could influence subsequent procedure selection and interpretation. MRI is sensitive and provides superb anatomic detail. Bone scintigraphy accurately diagnoses osteomyelitis in bones not affected by underlying conditions. 67Ga is used primarily for spondylodiskitis. Although in vitro labeled leukocyte imaging is the radionuclide test of choice for complicating osteomyelitis such as diabetic pedal osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infection, it is not useful for spondylodiskitis. Antigranulocyte antibodies and antibody fragments have limitations and are not widely available. 111In-biotin is useful for spondylodiskitis. Radiolabeled synthetic fragments of the antimicrobial peptide ubiquicidin are promising infection-specific agents. 18F-FDG is the radiopharmaceutical of choice for spondylodiskitis. Its role in diabetic pedal osteomyelitis and prosthetic joint infection is not established. Preliminary data suggest 68Ga may be useful in musculoskeletal infection. 124I-fialuridine initially showed promise as an infection-specific radiopharmaceutical, but subsequent investigations were disappointing. The development of PET/CT and SPECT/CT imaging systems, which combine anatomic and functional imaging, has revolutionized diagnostic imaging. These hybrid systems are redefining the diagnostic workup of patients with suspected or known infection and inflammation by improving diagnostic accuracy and influencing patient management.