SPECT/CT predicts foot amputations in diabetics

Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) white blood cell SPECT/CT imaging may be useful for identifying diabetic patients at risk of amputations due to foot infections, according to a study published April 22 in Scientific Reports. Researchers at Soonchunhyang University in Seoul, South Korea, found that patients were more likely to undergo amputations when they had high Tc-99m-labeled white blood cell activity at infection sites compared to patients with lower activity. The marker could help identify which patients need more aggressive interventions to avoid amputations, the group suggested. “There is no efficient imaging tool established yet to predict amputation and guide treatment decisions for patients with [diabetic foot infections],” noted lead author Soo Bin Park, MD, and colleagues. Foot infections are among the most serious consequences in over half of cases of diabetic foot ulcers, which are frequent complications of diabetes, the authors explained. While Tc-99m-labelled white blood cell (WBC) SPECT has proven useful for the diagnosis of foot infections, the value of hybrid Tc-99m WBC-SPECT/CT remains unexplored in these patients, they noted. To address this gap in knowledge, the researchers analyzed imaging from patients with suspected diabetic foot infections who underwent Tc-99m WBC-SPECT/CT at their hospital between October 2016 and July 2020. A total of 83 patients (totaling 93 feet) were ultimately included in the study, with amputations performed on 50 limbs (53.8%)...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Molecular Imaging Source Type: news