Health Information
Gallium Scan
Why It Is Done
A gallium scan is done to:
- Detect the source of an infection that is causing a fever (called a fever of unknown origin).
- Detect an Reference abscess Opens New Window or certain infections, especially in the bones.
- Monitor the response to Reference antibiotic Opens New Window treatment.
- Diagnose inflammatory conditions such as Reference pulmonary fibrosis Opens New Window or Reference sarcoidosis Opens New Window.
- Detect certain types of cancer (such as Reference lymphoma Opens New Window). A gallium scan also may be done to see if cancer has spread (metastasized) to other areas of the body, or to watch how well a cancer treatment is working.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference December 5, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Reference Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Reference Howard Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology |
|
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