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Use of Technetium99m–ciprofloxacin scan in Pott’s spine to assess the disease activity

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Abstract

Purpose

The World Health Organisation has declared tuberculosis (TB) a global emergency and spinal tuberculosis is one of the most common forms. There is still controversy regarding optimum duration of treatment in osteoarticular tuberculosis due to the lack of well-defined criteria for the end point of treatment. Emergence of multi drug resistant tuberculosis, primarily due to use of poor drug regimens, further illustrates the need of newer and more effective diagnostic methods, particularly in developing countries.

Methods

This prospective clinical study to evaluate the role of technetium (99mTc)–ciprofloxacin scan as a tool to assess disease activity involved in 15 cases of TB spine with a mean age of 32.2 years (range 21–72). Following a clinico-radiological diagnosis, all patients were treated with standard anti tubercular treatment and a scan was done at zero, three and six months of treatment with tracer activity being recorded and compared in sequential scans along with a parallel evaluation of clinical and radiological profile at regular intervals.

Results

Out of 15 cases, nine had an initially positive bone scan. Two patients (22%) converted to negative scans at three months, whereas the remaining seven (78%) turned negative at six months. The end of six months treatment was also accompanied by clinico-radiological resolution in all cases.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technetium (99mTc)–ciprofloxacin scan could be a promising tool for monitoring disease activity in selected cases of tuberculosis spine as an alternative for therapeutic drug monitoring; however, due to the small sample size, studies with a large number of patients might be of help in defining these cases in a better way.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Mayank Agrawal.

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Agrawal, M., Bhardwaj, V., Tsering, W. et al. Use of Technetium99m–ciprofloxacin scan in Pott’s spine to assess the disease activity. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 36, 271–276 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-011-1310-y

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