Is technetium-99 m-pyrophosphate scintigraphy valuable in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis?
Amyloidosis is a systemic disease frequently involving the myocardium and leading to functional disturbances of the heart. Amyloidosis can mimic other cardiac diseases. A conclusive clinical diagnosis of cardiac involvement can only be made by a combination of different diagnostic methods. In 7 patients with myocardial amyloidosis we used a combined first-pass and static scintigraphy with technetium-99 m-pyrophosphate. There was only insignificant myocardial uptake of the tracer. The first-pass studies however revealed reduced systolic function in 4/7 patients and impaired diastolic function in 6/7 patients. Therefore, although cardiac amyloid could not be demonstrated in the static scintigraphy due to amyloid fibril amount and composition, myocardial functional abnormalities were seen in the first-pass study.
Hartmann
A
A
Dept. of Cardiology, Frankfurt University Medical Center, West-Germany.
Frenkel
J
J
Hopf
R
R
Baum
R P
RP
Hör
G
G
Schneider
M
M
Kaltenbach
M
M
D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011756:Diphosphates; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D013667:Technetium; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; D015646:Ventriculography, First-Pass
D011756:Diphosphates; D016698:Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; D013667:Technetium