Radionuclide Imaging in Pyogenic Vertebral Osteomyelitis

Five cases of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis diagnosed clinically and with radioisotope studies are reported. All patients presented with symptoms of back pain, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and a normal leukocyte count. Three had positive blood cultures and four had changes on plain radiographs. All five had positive phosphate bone and Ga-67 imaging, and two showed paravertebral uptake of gallium giving a "butterfly"-like appearance.