MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Gallium injection

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Gallium injection

The gallium scan is a type of nuclear scan involving radioactive gallium which helps determine whether a patient has inflammation in the lungs. Gallium is injected in a vein and a series of x-rays are taken to identify where the gallium has accumulated in the lungs. This test is most often performed when there is evidence of inflammation in the lungs (sarcoidosis).

Update Date: 7/17/2007

Updated by: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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