Gallium Scan

Total Body Scan

Why It Is Done

A gallium scan is done to:

• Detect the source of an infection that is causing a fever (called a fever of unknown origin).
• Detect an abscess or certain infections, especially in the bones.
• Monitor the response to antibiotic treatment.
• Diagnose inflammatory conditions such as pulmonary fibrosis or sarcoidosis.
• Detect certain types of cancer (such as lymphoma). A gallium scan also may be done to see if cancer has spread (metastasized) to other areas of the body, or to watch how well a cancer treatment is working.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: January 5, 2009
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
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