Labeled White Blood Cell Scintigraphy: Useless for Working Up Fever of Unknown Origin

In a retrospective cohort study, WBCS yielded no additional information if x-ray imaging and CT or MRI scans had been performed.

Labeled white blood cell scintigraphy (WBCS) has traditionally been suggested in the diagnostic workup of fever of unknown origin (FUO) based on the concept that labeled white blood cells migrate to sites of infection, allowing their identification in whole body scans. However, with advances in CT and MRI the usefulness of WBCS has been questioned. Researchers retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic yield of WBCS in 132 patients with FUO who underwent this procedure (among other tests) from 2015 through 2019 in a Houston hospital system. Final findings included infectious, inflammatory, malignant, and miscellaneous processes; no final diagnosis could be made in 54% of cases.

Among 132 WBCS scans, 50 showed positive findings; of the positive …

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Labeled White Blood Cell Scintigraphy: Useless for Working Up Fever of Unknown Origin

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Reviewing Author