A unique finding on gallium-67 scintigraphy: widespread fatal skin manifestations of Pseudomonas sepsis.

Abstract

We report a case of a 25-year-old woman presented with neutropenic fever after chemotherapy for the relapse of acute biphenotypic leukemia. Gallium-67 scintigraphy for the detection of infectious foci demonstrated a unique pattern of numerous foci with intense and varying-sized radioactivity spreading throughout the body. The subsequent skin biopsy and culture proved Pseudomonas infection. Therefore, this unique image, in combination with clinical information, was compatible with cutaneous manifestations of Pseudomonas sepsis. Eventually, the patient died of uncontrolled systemic infection despite the aggressive antibiotic treatment. This case reminded clinicians and nuclear medicine physicians to notice the potentially fatal finding on gallium-67 scan.

• Authors: Yu-Chin Wu, Te-Chun Hsieh, Shung-Shung Sun, Woei-Chung Lo, Kuo-Yang Yen, Chia-Hung Kao
• Journal: Clinical nuclear medicine (Clin Nucl Med) Vol. 36 Issue 8 Pg. e96-7 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1536-0229 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21716010 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Gallium Radioisotopes

Topics

• Adult
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Gallium Radioisotopes
• Humans
• Pseudomonas (pathogenicity)
• Pseudomonas Infections (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Sepsis (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Skin Diseases, Bacterial (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)