17015 Gallium Scan

Overview

A gallium scan is a type of nuclear medicine scan. It is a painless imaging test that helps doctors look for inflammation (swelling), infection, or certain kinds of tumours inside the body. For the test, a tiny amount of a safe radioactive tracer containing gallium is put into a vein in your arm. Over the next few days the gallium travels around your body and settles in areas where something unusual is going on. A special camera then takes pictures of where the gallium has collected. The amount of radiation is very small. The scan is not a treatment — it does not cure or change anything. It simply helps your doctor see what is happening inside you.

It is not an everyday test. Doctors now use CT, MRI, ultrasound and PET scans more often, so gallium scans are kept for particular situations — for example when other tests have not given a clear answer.

Anyone can be referred for a gallium scan, at any age. It is done in adults and sometimes in children. It is not usually done during pregnancy, so your doctor will ask whether you could be pregnant or whether you are breastfeeding.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

• A fever that keeps coming back and has no clear cause after other tests
• A suspected infection deep inside the body — for example in a bone, in a joint replacement, or in a wound after surgery
• Inflammation in the lungs or lymph nodes, such as a condition called sarcoidosis
• Certain types of tumour, or checking how a known tumour is behaving
• Unexplained weight loss, tiredness or pain when simpler tests come back normal
• Inflammation in the bowel or in the kidneys

Symptoms in children

• Gallium scans are sometimes used in children, and a parent or carer can usually stay close by.
• Children need to lie still for the pictures, so the scan team may use distraction, toys or a play specialist to help.
• The team will explain the test to your child in simple words and will discuss any help needed to keep them comfortable and still.

Symptoms in older adults

• Older adults can have the scan safely. Extra care is taken if you are frail, if your kidneys do not work as well, or if travelling back for repeat visits would be difficult.
• Tell the team about all your health conditions and every medicine you take, including anything you buy without a prescription.

Causes

Main causes

• The scan is not caused by anything — it is a test. The reason it is requested is usually to look for hidden inflammation or infection, or to learn more about a known problem.
• Common reasons include a fever with no clear cause, a suspected bone or joint infection, or a suspected infection around an implanted device such as a joint replacement.
• It may also be used to look at inflammatory conditions affecting the lungs, lymph nodes or bowel, and to help assess certain tumours.

Risk factors

• There is no 'risk' of needing a scan — it depends on your symptoms and test results. Situations where it may be suggested include a weakened immune system, an implanted device, a long-running fever, or unusual results on other scans
• Being pregnant or breastfeeding is a reason to talk to your doctor first, because a different test may be safer
• Poor kidney function, being unable to lie still, or finding travel difficult are things the team will plan around

When to see a doctor

See a doctor urgently if:

• A fever that will not settle, or keeps coming back over days or weeks
• Unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats, or feeling unwell for weeks
• Pain in a joint replacement, or a wound that becomes red, hot or leaks fluid
• Any new symptom that worries you while you are waiting for your scan

Book a routine appointment if:

• You have been given a scan date and are unsure how to prepare, or your medicines need reviewing first
• You are breastfeeding, could be pregnant, or are caring for a child having the scan
• You have had the scan but have not heard about results within the time your doctor told you to expect
• You want to understand why the scan was requested or what the results might mean

Diagnosis

The gallium scan itself is the test. It is used to build a picture of what is happening inside your body, and it works alongside your symptoms, an examination, blood tests and other scans. No single test gives all the answers, so your doctor puts the pieces together.

Tests that may be done

• A short conversation and check of your medicines before the scan
• A pregnancy check if there is any chance you could be pregnant
• A blood test to check how well your kidneys are working, in some cases
• The injection of a small amount of radioactive gallium into a vein
• Pictures taken with a special camera — often the next day, and sometimes again 2 to 3 days later
• Sometimes a combined scan (called SPECT-CT) that overlays the pictures onto a detailed CT image

What to expect at your appointment

You will have a small injection, then you can usually go home. You come back later for the pictures. For the pictures you lie still on a flat bed while a large camera moves around you; each session takes roughly 30 to 60 minutes and does not hurt. You can eat and drink normally unless you are told otherwise, and you will usually be asked to empty your bladder before the pictures. Your scan team will tell you exactly when to return and how to prepare.

Treatment

A gallium scan is not a treatment. It is a way of finding out what is going on so that you and your doctor can choose the right care. What happens next depends entirely on what the scan shows — sometimes it rules out a problem, and sometimes it points to a condition that can be treated.

Self-care at home

• Drink plenty of fluids in the days after the injection unless your doctor has told you to limit them — this helps your body clear the tracer
• Follow any preparation instructions your scan team gives you, such as when to arrive and whether to change your usual routine
• After the scan, wash your hands well after using the toilet, and flush the toilet twice
• For the first day or two, keep close contact with pregnant people and very young children brief, as your scan team advises
• Bring a list of all your medicines, and ask someone to travel with you if you feel anxious or unsteady
• Keep a simple note of your symptoms while you wait for results, so you can describe any changes clearly

Medical treatments

Treatment is only needed if the scan — together with your other tests — shows a condition that needs it. That might mean medicines for an infection, treatment to calm inflammation, or referral to a specialist team for further assessment. Your own doctor will explain the options, the benefits and the possible side effects in your particular case, and will help you decide what is right for you.

When is surgery considered?

The scan itself does not involve surgery. If the scan shows a problem that is best treated with an operation, your specialist team will discuss this with you in detail, including the reasons for it, the alternatives and what recovery involves.

Living with this condition

Most people carry on with normal life between the injection and the pictures. You may need to make a couple of short trips to the hospital, so it helps to plan travel and, if you can, ask someone to come with you. The tracer leaves your body naturally, and the small amount of radiation involved fades quickly.

Lifestyle tips

• Keep up your usual routine, sleep, and gentle activity while you wait for results
• Note any new or changing symptoms in a diary or on your phone — it makes conversations with your doctor easier
• Ask your employer or carers for flexibility if you need extra time for hospital visits
• Avoid guessing at results from what you read online; ask your own team, who know your full picture

Diet and exercise

Unless your doctor says otherwise, eat and drink as normal and keep active with walks or whatever movement you enjoy. Good hydration helps clear the tracer. If you have another condition that affects your diet or activity, keep following that advice.

Mental health and emotional wellbeing

Waiting for scan results can bring worry, poor sleep and a low mood, and that is a very normal response. Talk to someone you trust, write down your questions, and tell your doctor if anxiety is affecting your daily life — support is available. If you ever feel you cannot cope or have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your local crisis line or emergency services straight away, or reach out to a trusted person who can stay with you.

Prevention

You cannot prevent the need for a scan — it is a test, not an illness. What you can do is prepare well: read your appointment letter, follow the instructions, tell the team about pregnancy, breastfeeding, medicines and allergies, and arrive in good time. Good preparation helps the pictures come out clearly, which may save you a repeat visit.

Screening programmes

A gallium scan is not a screening test. It is used to investigate a specific question raised by your symptoms or other test results.

Complications

If left untreated

• The scan itself has very few risks. Some people get a small bruise or a little soreness where the needle went in.
• Allergic reactions to the tracer are uncommon; the scan team is trained to spot and treat them.
• The radiation dose is small, and the benefit of finding the cause of your symptoms usually outweighs the tiny risk.
• The bigger concern is the condition being looked into. If hidden infection or inflammation is not found and treated, it can worsen over time — which is exactly why your doctor has arranged this test.

Long-term outlook

For most people this is a straightforward test that gives a useful answer. Many scans show nothing serious, and when something is found, it is often something that can be treated. Your care team will talk you through the result in plain words and explain what happens next, so you are not left guessing.

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