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Gallium (Ga.) scan |
| Definition: |
| A nuclear medicine examination which makes use of gallium (a radioactive material) to look for areas of occult (hidden) infection in the body. |
| Alternative Names: |
| Liver gallium scan; Bony gallium scan |
| How the test is performed: |
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The night before the test, a laxative may be necessary to clean out the bowel so that the stool does not interfere with the test. An enema may instead be given 1 to 2 hours before the test. Remove all jewelry and metal objects. You return to the hospital for the scan. The scan is taken with a special camera that detects where the gallium has accumulated in the body. If acute inflammatory disease is suspected, the scan is performed 4 to 6 hours after injection; otherwise the scan is taken 24 to 48 hours (occasionally 72 hours) after the injection. During the scan, which takes 30 to 60 minutes, the patient must remain still. This test usually does not require a stay in the hospital. |
| How to prepare for the test: |
| Besides taking a laxative the night before the injection of gallium, there are no special preparations. Food and liquids are not restricted. You must sign a consent form. Infants and children: The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:
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| How the test will feel: |
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The enema may be uncomfortable but does not cause pain. The injection will feel like a sharp prick, and the site may be tender to the touch for a few minutes. The hardest part of the scan is holding still, as the scan itself is painless. Before the scan, some adjustments may be made to make the patient more comfortable. |
| Why the test is performed: |
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This test may be performed in the search for an unknown source of fevers. Gallium collects in areas of inflammation, which may be due to an abscess or tumor. Combined with other imaging, such as computed tomography, small occult disease may be detected. |
| Normal Values: |
| Gallium normally collects in bones, the liver, spleen, the large bowel, and breast tissue. |
| What abnormal results mean: |
| Gallium detected outside the normal areas (areas of increased uptake) can indicate infection/inflammation or possibly neoplasm (tumors) including Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. |
| What the risks are: |
| There is a minimal risk of radiation exposure (less than with X-rays or CT scans). Radiation exposure of any sort is not usually recommended for pregnant or nursing women or for young children unless the benefits of the test exceed the risk. |
| Special considerations: |
| Not all cancers show up on a gallium scan. |
Reviewed By: Evan Mair, M.D., Department of Radiology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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