Gallium-67 scintigraphy

Last revised by Arlene Campos on 31 Jan 2024

Gallium-67 (Ga-67) is a photon-emitting radiotracer used for scintigraphy which is used in the form of various salts like citrate and nitrate. Once administered, imaging may consist of planar (2 dimensional), SPECT, and SPECT-CT acquisitions. Once injected it binds to plasma proteins (especially transferrin and lactoferrin), and has a predilection to sites of inflammation. It binds to inflammatory proteins and thus it pools up at the sites of various inflammatory and granulomatous reactions.

  • given in IV form, dose is about 111-222 MBq (3-6 mCi

  • imaging can be done at 24, 48, and 72 hours.

  • study may include planar, SPECT and SPECT-CT imaging

  • has largely been replaced by 18-F FDG PET-CT imaging which has the advantage of earlier scan, better image quality, and SUV quantification

  • better in evaluation of spinal infection than other tagged WBC radiotracers

  • gallium citrate usually shows a negative scan earlier than other radionuclide like technetium used in bone scanning

  • higher radiation dose than other WBC radiotracers 

  • poor image quality

  • cannot differentiate between osteomyelitis and cellulitis

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