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World J Radiol. Jul 28, 2014; 6(7): 446-458
Published online Jul 28, 2014. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i7.446
Published online Jul 28, 2014. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v6.i7.446
Nuclear medicine and the failed joint replacement: Past, present, and future
Christopher J Palestro, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New York, NY 11040, United States
Author contributions: Palestro CJ solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Christopher J Palestro, MD, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue New Hyde Park, New York, NY 11040, United States. palestro@lij.edu
Telephone: +1-718-4707081 Fax: +1-718-8311147
Received: December 4, 2013
Revised: February 26, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: July 28, 2014
Processing time: 238 Days and 13.2 Hours
Revised: February 26, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: July 28, 2014
Processing time: 238 Days and 13.2 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: Advances in anatomic imaging, notably cross sectional modalities, have facilitated the diagnosis of many, if not most, causes of prosthetic failure, with the important exception of infection. This has led to a shift in the diagnostic paradigm, in which nuclear medicine investigations increasingly have focused on diagnosing infection. This article is a comprehensive review of the evolution of nuclear medicine imaging of joint replacements. In addition to conventional planar imaging studies such as bone, gallium, and labeled leukocyte imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography/electronic computer X-ray tomography technique and positron emission tomography imaging with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose and 18F (NaI) are covered.