title: The 'hot halo' sign. Pyogenic pericarditis on In-111 leukocyte scintigraphy.
abstract: The authors report a patient with diffuse pyogenic pericarditis and focal myoendocarditis initially detected using In-111 WBC scintigraphy. The patient was in septic shock after hemodialysis for the treatment of chronic renal failure. This was preceded by clinical signs and symptoms of pericarditis thought to be viral in nature. Initial investigations found no septic focus, and the patient was referred for In-111 WBC scintigraphy. This revealed a striking "halo" of increased activity around the heart, strongly suggesting bacterial pericarditis. A subsequent pericardiocentesis yielded 400 ml of purulent material, confirming the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Coupland
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Terriff
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sartori
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D007205:Indium Radioisotopes