Because of its role in infection and inflammatory processes, the chemokine receptor CXCR4 might be a potent target in imaging of infectious and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether the CXCR4 ligand ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor is suitable for imaging chronic infection of the bone. Methods: The study comprised 14 patients with suspected infection of the skeleton who underwent ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT between April 2015 and February 2017 in our facility. ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT results were retrospectively evaluated against a histologic, bacteriologic, and clinical standard. The results were also compared with available bone scintigraphy, white blood cell scintigraphy, and ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT results. Results: ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT was positive in 9 of 14 patients. Diagnoses included osteitis or osteomyelitis of peripheral bone, osteomyelitis of the maxilla, and infected endoprostheses. Target-to-background ratios were 5.1–15 (mean, 8.7). Eight of 9 cases were true-positive as confirmed by pathology, bacteriology, or clinical observation. All negative cases were confirmed as true-negative by other imaging modalities and follow-up. Conclusion: Imaging of CXCR4 expression with ⁶⁸Ga-pentixafor PET/CT appears suitable for diagnosing chronic infection of the skeleton. The findings of this study reveal a possible diagnostic gain in suspected chronic infections that are difficult to diagnose by other imaging modalities.

由于其在感染和炎症过程中的作用，趋化因子受体CXCR4可能成为感染和炎症疾病成像的有效靶标。这项初步研究的目的是确定CXCR4配体⁶⁸ Ga-pentixafor是否适用于对骨骼的慢性感染进行成像。方法：本研究包括2015年4月至2017年2月在我们设施中进行的^68例Ga-pentixa进行PET / CT的14例疑似骨骼感染患者。根据组织学，细菌学和临床标准回顾性评估了⁶⁸ Ga-pentixa的PET / CT结果。还将结果与可用的骨闪烁显像，白细胞闪烁显像和¹⁸F-FDG PET / CT结果。结果： 14例患者中有9例⁶⁸ -Ga-pentixafor PET / CT阳性。诊断包括周围骨性骨炎或骨髓炎，上颌骨骨髓炎和感染的假体。目标与背景之比为5.1–15（平均8.7）。经病理，细菌学或临床观察证实，9例中有8例为阳性。其他影像学检查和随访均证实所有阴性病例为真阴性。结论：用⁶⁸ Ga-pentixa对PET / CT进行CXCR4表达的成像似乎适合诊断骨骼的慢性感染。这项研究的结果揭示了疑似慢性感染的可能的诊断价值，而其他成像方式难以诊断这种怀疑的慢性感染。