Tc99m-HMPAO white blood cell scintigraphy: added value of SPECT/CT for infection diagnosis in cardiothoracic surgery

Submitted: 27 September 2011
Accepted: 2 February 2012
Published: 3 February 2012
Abstract Views: 2736
PDF: 1846
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We report a case of a woman who came to our attention because of fever and a sternal fistula draining purulent fluid. Four years before, she had undergone cardiothoracic surgery to place a patch because of a myocardial rupture. Under suspicion of a deep mediastinal infection, a Tc99m-HMPAO white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy was performed. The use of planar imaging and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging allowed the identification of a sternal infection, which involved the anterior mediastinum up to pericardium and diaphgram. SPECT/CT led to a precise diagnosis of a thoracic infection, providing the location and extent of the disease. This turned out useful to improve therapeutic strategies.

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Prandini, N., Panareo, S., Cultrera, R., Peterle, C., de Cristofaro, V., Roncali, M., de Biasi, V., Badia, L., & Feggi, L. (2012). Tc99m-HMPAO white blood cell scintigraphy: added value of SPECT/CT for infection diagnosis in cardiothoracic surgery. Chest Disease Reports, 3(1), e5. https://doi.org/10.4081/cdr.3.230