Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2013. Vol. 58. No. 1. P. 50–58
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
O.A. Arkhipova, T.V. Martynyuk, L.E. Samoilenko, V.B. Sergienko, I.E. Chazova
Application of Perfusion Lung Scintigraphy in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension of Various Etiologies
Russian Cardiology Research and Production Complex, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abstract
Purpose: To study changes of pulmonary perfusion in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) of various genesis according to perfusion lung scintigraphy. Materials and methods: The study included 94 patients with PH: 20 patients from PH associated with congenital heart diseases (CHD), 21 patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), 20 patients with PH associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD) and the 33 patient with idiopathic PH (IPAH). Groups were comparable by age, sex, distance passed in the 6-minute test of walking, a functional class, frequency of edemas, implications of a heart failure. After carrying out the whole-clinical inspection for the diagnosis specification the perfusion lung scintigraphy was performed for all patients.
Results: Found differences appeared to be depending on the PH etiology. Significant intensifying of perfusion of the right lung has been revealed in PH with CHD associated patients. Blood flow distribution in each lung and the upper/lower gradient of perfusion (U/L-Q) weren’t broken. Inclusion of radiopharmaceutical means in organs of large circulation circle testified an existence of functioning pulmonarysystemic shunt. Large-scale defects of perfusion in the lower parts and increase of U/L-Q was revealed in CTEPH patients. There was no disturbance in inclusion of radiopharmaceutical means among right and left lungs. Distribution of including of RFP between right and left lungs isn’t broken. The most expressed depression of perfusion of the upper Vest zone and U/L-Q was found in LG associated with CTD patients. Patients with IPAH revealed non-significant redistribution of lung blood circulation in direction to right lung with perfusion and pauperization of the upper Vest zones and U/L-Q decreasing.
Key words: perfusion lung scintigraphy, pulmonary hypertension, quantitative assessment of scintigrams