The Role of Nuclear Medicine Imaging with F-FDG PET/CT, Combined In-WBC/Tc-Nanocoll, and Tc-HDP SPECT/CT in the Evaluation of Patients with Chronic Problems after TKA or THA in a Prospective Study.

Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the diagnostic value of nuclear imaging with F-FDG PET/CT (FDG PET/CT), combined In-WBC/Tc-Nanocoll, and Tc-HDP SPECT/CT (dual-isotope WBC/bone marrow scan) for patients with chronic problems related to knee or hip prostheses (TKA or THA) scheduled by a structured multidisciplinary algorithm.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-five patients underwent imaging with Tc-HDP SPECT/CT (bone scan), dual-isotope WBC/bone marrow scan, and FDG PET/CT. The final diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and/or loosening was based on the intraoperative findings and microbiological culture results and the clinical follow-up.