title: Demonstrating patency of STA-MCA anastomosis with Tc-99m albumin microspheres.
abstract: A patient with occlusion of the left internal carotid artery underwent an anastomosis between branches of the left superficial temporal and middle cerebral arteries (STA-MCA). A left carotid angiogram 9 days later showed extreme, tapered narrowing of the involved STA branch, with no filling of the MCA from the bypass. A year later, symptoms had improved slightly, and a minimally invasive study was made with Tc-99m human albumin microspheres. This showed patency of the bypass, with intracranial perfusion in the MCA field, findings later confirmed by a repeat left carotid angiogram. It appears that Tc-99m HAM scintigraphy will be useful in assessing the effectiveness of this and other bypass operations.
mesh_terms: D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002548:Cerebral Revascularization; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013667:Technetium; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D013667:Technetium