99mTc-HMPAO labelled white blood cell scintigraphy in the diagnosis and monitoring of response of the therapy in patients with active bronchiectasis

• Published in: Revista espanola de medicina nuclear e imagen molecular Vol. 31; no. 1; p. 9
• Main Authors: Altiay, G, Cermik, T F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bronchiectasis - diagnostic imaging; Bronchiectasis - drug therapy; Female; Humans; Leukocytes - diagnostic imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Radionuclide Imaging; Radiopharmaceuticals; Recurrence; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
• ISSN: 2253-8070

The aim of this study was to assess the role of labelled leukocyte scintigraphy in the diagnosis and monitorization of response to therapy of patients with active bronchiectasis. Twenty patients underwent (99m)Technetium hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime ((99m)Tc-HMPAO) labelled white blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy. A second scintigraphy was performed in 13 patients at 10 day of the treatment. Regional (99m)Tc-HMPAO WBC uptake and radiologic imaging findings (high resolution computed tomography or Chest X-Ray) in the lungs were classified into 3 categories in 6 lung areas. scintigraphic, radiological and clinical disease scores were calculated for all patients. An abnormal accumulation was visually observed in 19 of 20 patients on the pre-treatment scans, the scintigraphy showing 95% sensitivity. A significant difference was found between early and late ratios (P=0.001) in the pre-treatment scans. The infected areas revealed a significant decrease in uptake ratios on the post-treatment scans compared to the pre-treatment scans (P=0.001). However, no significant correlation was determined between clinical and radiological scores, clinical and scintigraphic scores and also between scintigraphic and radiological scores (P ≥ 0.05). (99m)Tc-HMPAO WBC scintigraphy may be a useful tool to evaluate response to therapy in patients with active bronchiectasis.