67Ga scintigraphy in HIV antibody positive patients; a review of its clinical usefulness.

We reviewed the results of 67Ga scintigraphy in HIV antibody positive patients in order to determine how the result affected management. Case records of 37 HIV antibody positive patients undergoing 41 67Ga scintigraphic studies over a 31 month period were examined. New and additional information was provided by 67Ga scintigraphy in 22 studies (53%). In 13 studies (32%) there was a positive effect on patient management. 67Ga scintigraphy was most useful in differentiating Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia from Kaposi's sarcoma in the chest and for the diagnosis of unsuspected lymphoma. Factors which reduced the effectiveness of 67Ga scintigraphy included empirical use of antibiotics in patients with suspected infection and the low specificity of the test.