Clinical indications, image acquisition and data interpretation for white blood cells and anti-granulocyte monoclonal antibody scintigraphy: an EANM procedural guideline.

INTRODUCTION: Radiolabelled autologous white blood cells (WBC) scintigraphy is being standardized all over the world to ensure high quality, specificity and reproducibility. Similarly, in many European countries radiolabelled anti-granulocyte antibodies (anti-G-mAb) are used instead of WBC with high diagnostic accuracy. The EANM Inflammation & Infection Committee is deeply involved in this process of standardization as a primary goal of the group.

AIM: The main aim of this guideline is to support and promote good clinical practice despite the complex environment of a national health care system with its ethical, economic and legal aspects that must also be taken into consideration.

METHOD: After the standardization of the WBC labelling procedure (already published), a group of experts from the EANM Infection & Inflammation Committee developed and validated these guidelines based on published evidences.

RESULTS: Here we describe image acquisition protocols, image display procedures and image analyses as well as image interpretation criteria for the use of radiolabelled WBC and monoclonal antigranulocyte antibodies. Clinical application for WBC and anti-G-mAb scintigraphy is also described.

CONCLUSIONS: These guidelines should be applied by all nuclear medicine centers in favor of a highly reproducible standardized practice.