Ventilation-perfusion lung scan for the detection of pulmonary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine Vol. 28; no. 12; pp. 1801 - 1805
• Main Authors: CASTELLANI, Massimo, VANOLI, Massimo, CALI, Giovanni, BACCHIANI, Giulia, ORIGGI, Laura, RESCHINI, Eugenio, SCORZA, Raffaella, GERUNDINI, Paolo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.12.2001; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Graphite; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Pulmonary Artery - diagnostic imaging; Radionuclide investigations; Respiratory system; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; Takayasu Arteritis - diagnostic imaging; Takayasu Arteritis - physiopathology; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio; Radionuclide study; Human; Lung disease; Ventilation perfusion relationship; Respiratory disease; Lung; Cardiovascular disease; Exploration; Scintigraphy; Vascular disease; Vasculitis; Systemic disease; Medical imagery; Diagnosis; Lesion; Bibliographic review; Takayashu arteritis
• ISSN: 0340-6997; 1619-7070; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s002590100648

The aim of study was to analyse ventilation and perfusion (V/Q) lung scan findings in a series of Italian patients with Takayasu's arteritis. Eighteen consecutive patients underwent V/Q lung planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission tomography (SPET). Before perfusion scan acquisition was started, a first-pass study with (99m)Tc-macroaggregates of albumin was performed to assess the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). All patients had normal chest X-rays and were symptom free at the time of the investigation. They also underwent echocardiography to evaluate pulmonary artery pressure and in 13 patients respiratory function tests were performed. In four patients, perfusion lung scan was repeated after 1 year. In 10/18 patients (55.5%), 43 unmatched lobar, segmental or subsegmental perfusion defects were found on planar images; ventilation scintigraphy was normal in all cases. On SPET images, 55 defects were found; no defects were found with SPET in the remaining patients who had normal planar images. All patients had normal RVEF and 5/13 patients had mild restrictive-obstructive lung disease. The pulmonary artery pressure was increased in two patients with perfusion defects. In the four patients who had repeat scintigraphy, all defects remained unchanged. The prevalence of lung perfusion abnormalities observed in Italian patients with Takayasu's arteritis is within the range of values reported in other countries, and V/Q planar scintigraphy is sufficient for the screening of patients.