Nuclear imaging - (67)Gallium, (201)thallium, F-18-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography

(67)Gallium scintigraphy has a limited sensitivity and specificity for sarcoidosis. At present, it is mainly used in the diagnostic workup in cases with diagnostic difficulties, while its routine use in the subsequent management of sarcoidosis has decreased. (201)Thallium scintigraphy is a complementary tool to echocardiography and 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring in the assessment of cardiac sarcoidosis. Positron emission tomography may have a great potential to assess sarcoidosis activity but it is still largely experimental and is not routinely used. In this article, the current status of these fields is reviewed and recommendations for rational clinical use of these techniques in the study of patients with sarcoidosis are suggested.