The kinetics of 67gallium incorporation into inflammatory lesions: experimental and clinical studies.

Abstract The kinetics of 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 67 Ga scans. Inflammatory lesions created in monkeys 24 hours before and at the time of 67 Ga administration were consistently localized within 2 hours; lesions created 24 hours after 67 Ga administration 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 67 Ga within areas of inflammation is chiefly mediated by the binding of the nuclide within granulocytic inflammatory cells. The data suggest that scanning with 67 Ga may provide a useful noninvasive technique for the localization of inflammatory lesions in man.