Indium-111-leukocyte and gallium-67 imaging in acute sarcoidosis: report of two patients.

Abstract

Two young women with acute sarcoidosis underwent (111)In-labeled autologous leukocyte imaging because of persistent fevers. Images of one of the women demonstrated faint thoracic lymph node uptake of labeled cells, but no discrete focus suggestive of infection was seen. Images of the second woman were normal. Gallium-67 imaging, performed 48 hr after the leukocyte studies, revealed multiple areas of abnormal radiotracer accumulation corresponding to regions of active sarcoid in both women. These cases suggest that leukocyte imaging is not useful for assessing the extent of disease in patients with sarcoidosis. This technique may be valuable, however, in excluding superimposed infection in these individuals.