title: Prevalence and significance of gallium-67 uptake in the heart after open-heart surgery.
abstract: Radioactive gallium-67 (Ga-67) has been shown to accumulate within areas of pericardial inflammation. The present study estimated prospectively the prevalence and clinical significance of Ga-67 uptake in the heart in 62 patients 10 to 16 days after open-heart surgery. Of 62 patients studied, markedly diffuse Ga-67 uptake was detected in 21 (34%) and focal or mild diffuse uptake in 23 (37%). Results were negative in 18 (29%). Nine patients with a negative scan result (50%) had received corticosteroid therapy before imaging, whereas only 2 patients with a positive scan result (5%) were receiving steroids. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein level were both higher in patients with Ga-67 uptake compared with those with a negative scan result (p less than 0.01 in both). No other clinical, echocardiographic or electrocardiographic indicators of postpericardiotomy syndrome were related to Ga-67 uptake. No patient developed cardiac tamponade or constrictive pericarditis during the 12-week follow-up and the Ga-67 scan results did not predict the occlusion of coronary artery bypass grafts. Thus, pericardial inflammation manifested as Ga-67 uptake is a common finding after open-heart surgery and appears to be a benign condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Huikuri
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ikäheimo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Linnaluoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Takkunen
mesh_terms: D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D002097:C-Reactive Protein