The present invention involves a method of imaging tissue sites of inflammation which takes advantage of the up-regulation of surface antigenic markers on leukocytes upon activation thereof. A recognition agent selected from the group of chemotactic peptides, eosinophilic peptides and agents which are capable of selective interaction with a chemotactic receptor associated with activated leukocytes is radiolabeled. The radiolabeled recognition agent is infused into a patient and the patient's tissue sites are thereafter imaged in order to detect, evaluate or monitor tissue damage mediated by inflammation.