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| CASE REPORT |
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| Year : 2020 | Volume
: 19
| Issue : 3 | Page : 271-272 |
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Vertebral uptake of99mTc-macroaggregated albumin during lung perfusion scanning
Philippe DAbadie1, Benoit Ghaye2, François Jamar1
1 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
2 Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Universite Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| Date of Submission | 28-Mar-2019 |
| Date of Acceptance | 23-Jul-2019 |
| Date of Web Publication | 07-Nov-2019 |
Correspondence Address:
Dr. Philippe DAbadie
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Hippocrate, 10, Brussels 1200
Belgium
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DOI: 10.4103/wjnm.WJNM_44_19 
 Abstract | | |
A 53-year-old female underwent a lung ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy (V/Q scan) in the workup of extensive thrombosis of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins. The perfusion lung scan visualized an atypical uptake in the thoracic vertebrae. A chest Computed Tomography (CT) scan demonstrated unusual tortuous and opacified thoracic superficial veins, collaterals of the lateral thoracic vein. Many venous collateral pathways can be developed in the case of superior vena cava syndrome.99mTc-macroaggregated albumin particles may pass through the lateral thoracic vein and eventually through the vertebral venous plexus before being finally trapped by the vertebral capillaries. Besides right-to-left shunting, extrapulmonary uptake in the lung perfusion scintigraphy is very rare and may be used by collateral venous pathways. Keywords: Collateral pathways, lung perfusion scan, superior vena cava syndrome, vertebral uptake
How to cite this article:
DAbadie P, Ghaye B, Jamar F. Vertebral uptake of99mTc-macroaggregated albumin during lung perfusion scanning. World J Nucl Med 2020;19:271-2 |
How to cite this URL:
DAbadie P, Ghaye B, Jamar F. Vertebral uptake of99mTc-macroaggregated albumin during lung perfusion scanning. World J Nucl Med [serial online] 2020 [cited 2021 Sep 26];19:271-2. Available from: http://www.wjnm.org/text.asp?2020/19/3/271/271136 |
| Introduction | |  |
Perfusion lung scintigraphy using99m Tc-macroaggregated albumin (99m Tc-MAA) is an important diagnostic tool for pulmonary embolism (PE). In case of PE, the embolus blocks the blood flow and causes a typical segmental perfusion defect with a normal ventilation using the V/Q scan.[1] All99m Tc-MAA particles have a size comprised between 10 and 100 μm and are lodged in the pulmonary precapillary arterioles after intravenous injection.[2] However, in case of congenital heart disease with a right-to-left shunt,99m Tc-MAA can also be distributed in the systemic circulation.[3] Here, we report an uncommon cause and site of99m Tc-MAA uptake during a lung perfusion scintigraphy.
| Case Report | | |
A 53-year-old female underwent a lung V/Q scan [Figure 1]a in the workup of extensive thrombosis of the left subclavian and internal jugular veins. The V/Q scan ruled out PE, but showed atypical perfusion uptake in the upper part of the mediastinum [white arrow, [Figure 1]a. The perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (CT)/CT confirmed a99m Tc-MAA uptake at the level of the posterior edge of the fifth thoracic vertebra and less intensely in the seventh thoracic vertebra [white arrow, [Figure 1]b. A chest CT scan realized 2 days before was retrospectively analyzed by a senior thoracic radiologist and demonstrated unusual tortuous and opacified thoracic and superficial veins in the left chest wall and collaterals of the lateral thoracic vein [gray arrow, [Figure 1]c. | Figure 1: (a) V/Q scan with atypical perfusion uptake in the upper part of the mediastinum (white arrow). Anterior views are visualized in the upper part and posterior views in the lower part. (b) Perfusion99mTc-macroaggregated albumin single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography with uptake at the level of the posterior edge of the fifth thoracic vertebra (white arrow) and less intensely in the seventh thoracic vertebra (coronal views of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography fusion in the upper part and single-photon emission computed tomography in the lower part). (c) Chest computed tomography scan with contract injection (maximum intensity projection MIP reconstruction) with unusual tortuous veins in the left thoracic wall and collaterals of the lateral thoracic vein (gray arrow)
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| Discussion | | |
99m Tc-MAA particles used for lung perfusion scan were injected into a vein of the left arm. Normally, all these particles passed through the right heart to be finally trapped by lung precapillaries. In our case, some99m Tc-MAA particles passed through the left chest wall venous collaterals and probably through the vertebral venous plexus to be finally trapped by the vertebral capillaries. Indeed, in case of obstruction of superior vena cava or its branches (such as the subclavian vein), multiple venous collateral pathways are developed to bypass thrombosis and drain blood;[4],[5] these include the lateral thoracic vein and the vertebral venous network.[6] The vertebral venous plexus is a valveless[7] and large capacitance system that communicates with other venous systems.[8] Its absence of valves allows changing the direction of the blood flow, depending on the local pressure. In our case, some99m Tc-MAA particles passed through the vertebral venous plexus by retrograde flow[9] and were finally trapped by the vertebral capillaries.[10]
| Conclusion | | |
Besides right-to-left shunting, extrapulmonary uptake in lung perfusion scintigraphy is very rare and may be used by collateral venous pathways. The knowledge of the recent venous status is important for choosing the best site of99m Tc-MAA injection.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | | |
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