Kinetics of $sup 67$Ga incorporation into inflammatory lesions: experimental and clinical studies

The kinetics of /sup 67/Ga/ localization within inflammatory lesions were investigated in leukemic patients and experimental animals. In clinical studies, 4 of 5 histologically proved abscesses were localized on /sup 67/Ga scans. Inflammatory lesions created in monkeys 24 hrs before and at the time of / sup 67/Ga administration were consistently localized within 2 hrs; lesions created 24 hrs after /sup 67/Ga administratiori were not localized. Leukopenic animals showed either no localization or delayed localization at inflammatory sites. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that localization of / sup 67/Ga within areas of inflammation is chiefly mediated by the binding of the nuclide within granulocytic inflammatory cells. The data suggests that scanning with /sup 67/Ga may provide a useful noninvasive technique for the localization of inflammatory lesions in man. (auth)