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Diagnostic Test – Gallium Scanning
1. How does this test work?

Gallium scanning is a nuclear medicine imaging study used to detect infection and certain malignancies.

Mechanism:
  • Gallium localizes to areas with:
    • Increased white blood cell activity
    • Increased iron metabolism
  • It is transported in the blood bound to transferrin
  • Areas of inflammation, infection, or malignancy show increased gallium uptake
Gallium scanning is a nonspecific localizing study and is often used to help identify a site for targeted CT or MRI imaging.

2. When is a gallium scan the appropriate choice?
Choose a gallium scan when the clinical picture includes:
  • Persistent fever without localizing symptoms
  • Negative initial evaluation, including:
    • Blood cultures
    • Chest X-ray
    • Urinalysis
Gallium scanning is classically used to detect:
  • Fever of unknown origin (FUO)
  • Lymphoma
  • Occult abscesses
3. What is the most accurate test to confirm an abnormal result?

  • A biopsy is the most definitive test following an abnormal gallium scan
    • Malignancy → requires histologic confirmation
    • Infection → requires culture confirmation
Gallium identifies where to look, but biopsy determines the cause.


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Kembara Xtra 

Facts about medicine and its subtopic such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology and surgery.