Quantitative shunt imaging in the evaluation of therapeutic surgery in a patient with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Aug;86(2):649-51. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.02.020.

Abstract

A case of pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) in a 32-year-old woman who underwent successful left upper lobectomy is presented. A whole-body technetium-99m-labeled macro-aggregated albumin scan was used to demonstrate intrapulmonary right-to-left shunt, and shunt fraction was calculated as 39%. The patient underwent a follow-up scan after the operation; shunt fraction was calculated to be within normal limits (5%). The whole-body technetium-99m-labeled macro-aggregated albumin scan seems to be a simple and noninvasive test in the demonstration and quantitation of the degree of the right-to-left shunt in pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. The whole-body technetium-99m-labeled macro-aggregated albumin scan may also be useful for evaluation of the hemodynamic changes after surgical treatment and follow-up of the patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / diagnosis
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / pathology
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / physiopathology
  • Arteriovenous Malformations / surgery*
  • Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Oxygen / blood
  • Pulmonary Artery / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Circulation*
  • Pulmonary Veins / abnormalities*
  • Pulmonary Veins / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Regional Blood Flow
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • Oxygen