Different actions of deferoxamine and iron on gallium 67 abscess detection in rats

Oberhaensli R. D.; Mueller R. M.; Fridrich R.

The contrast-enhancing properties of Fe and deferoxamine (DFO) in abscess imaging with 67Ga citrate were compared in rats bearing turpentine-induced abscesses. Iron administration shifted 67Ga from plasma into tissues such as muscle and fat. As a result, the abscess-to-plasma ratio increased whereas the abscess-to-muscle ratio decreased. DFO enhanced the abscess-to-muscle and abscess-to-plasma ratios by increasing urinary 67Ga excretion. In contrast to Fe, DFO removed abscess-bound 67Ga, thus representing a disadvantage of DFO compared with Fe. As a result, the abscess-to-plasma ratio was more effecively enhanced by Fe than by DFO. Abscess imaging with 67Ga citrate may be improved by administration of Fe for detection of abscesses masked by blood activity, or DFO for detection of abscesses surrounded by muscle tissue.