About Indium 111-White Blood Cell Scan

Hi my name is alicia. I've  been having on going low grade fevers since march. My doctor recently had me do an indium 111-white blood cell scan and I am having trouble understanding the results. Also i've had these bumps all on my back, chest, bottum, and legs since may I thought they were heat bumps but they aren't going away and i've even been on several antibiotics for them they are still here and just as many as there were before I started taking the antibiotic. Here are the results of my scan. SPECT-CT was done of the left  hemithorax and the right hemipelvis. The linear focus of mildly increased radiotracer accumulation within the left hemithorax localizes to bone marrow activation within the anterior left ribs. The SPECT images of the pelvis demonstrate mildly increased radiotracer accumulation within small bilateral inguinal lymph nodes, right greater than left, compatible with benign reactive adenopathy. Dual isotope imaging was performed of the chest and pelvis to help differentiate bone marrow activation from underlying osteomyelitis. Concordant In-111 white blood cell and Tc-99m sulfur colloid uptake in the bilateral humeri and femora most typical of reactive bone marrow. This degree of diffuse bone marrow activation can be seen in the setting of anemia or blood dyscrasias. Recommend clinical correlation. Mildly increased In-11 white blood cell uptake within the small bilateral inguinal lymph nodes, right greater than left, compatible with reactive adenopathy. I already know i'm anemic I just don't understand what the rest means. If you could please help that would be great.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi alicia,

Unfortunately, I am not qualified to interpret these results for you.  The best thing for you to do is to make an appointment with the doctor who ordered the exam and review the results with him/her.  I always recommend that you write down any questions that you have ahead of time and bring them with you to the appointment.  This way you can be sure that everything is answered since sometimes these appointments can be overwhelming and it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask.  Also, ask the doctor how/when you can contact him/her with more questions if they arise.  This way you know when it is best to reach them.  Good luck.

Bridget