Methods

We analysed the results of 95 patients referred with a clinical suspicion of bone and joint infections. There were 47 male and 48 female patients with a mean age of 60 years (range=16 to 89). Referrals were made for suspected infection of prosthetic total joint replacements (38), long bones (32), primary joints (12) and feet (13). Sulesomab imaging was done with 650 MBq of 99mTcSulesomab. The final diagnosis was determined by conclusive microbiology, culture and/or histology, intra-operative findings, aspiration, complementary investigations like CT/MRI and long term clinical follow-up. The findings of 99mTcSulesomab images were compared with the clinical outcome to arrive at the decision of True Positive/ False positive/ True negative/ False negative results. Using the above definitions sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 99mTcSulesomab for suspected bone and joint infection were calculated.