Gallium (Ga.) scan

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Gallium injection

Overview

Risks

Results

Gallium (Ga.) scan

Definition:

A gallium scan is a nuclear medicine examination using a radioactive material (gallium) to look for areas of hidden infection in the body.

Alternative Names:

Liver gallium scan; Bony gallium scan

How the test is performed:

A rubber strap (tourniquet) is tied around the upper arm to help locate the vein, and the gallium is injected into the vein.

The scan is taken with a special camera that detects where the gallium has accumulated in the body. If acute inflammatory disease is suspected, the scan is performed 4 to 6 hours after injection; otherwise the scan is taken 24 to 48 hours (occasionally 72 hours) after the injection. During the scan, which takes 30 to 60 minutes, the patient must remain still.

This test usually does not require a stay in the hospital.

How to prepare for the test:

The night before the test, a laxative may be necessary to clean out the bowel so that stool does not interfere with the test. An enema may instead be given 1 to 2 hours before the test.

Food and liquids are not restricted. You must sign a consent form. Remove all jewelry and metal objects.

How the test will feel:

The enema may be uncomfortable but does not cause pain. The injection will feel like a sharp prick, and the site may be tender to the touch for a few minutes.

The hardest part of the scan is holding still, as the scan itself is painless. Before the scan, some adjustments may be made to make the patient more comfortable.

Why the test is performed:

This test may be performed in the search for an unknown source of fevers. Gallium collects in areas of inflammation, which may be due to an abscess or tumor. Combined with other imaging, such as CT, hidden disease may be detected.

Review Date: 1/24/2005
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, M.D., FACR, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review Provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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