Bone imaging findings in gangrene

P. Vasinrapee, M. D. Reitz and F. S. Mishkin
Department of Radiology, King/Drew Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90059.

Review of three-phase bone imaging results in three patients with gangrene of the toes showed a unique pattern of absent perfusion and absent bony and soft-tissue uptake. In one of these patients, characteristic bone imaging findings were present before clear-cut clinical presentation. In our experience, the finding of absent uptake in a particular clinical setting is highly specific for gangrene.