Dual radiopharmaceutical imaging in congenital asplenia syndrome.
Asplenia was suspected in one patient with combined immunodeficiency syndrome and 5 with congenital cardiac anomalies who had Howell-Jolly bodies on peripheral blood smears. 99mTc-sulfur colloid scans were equivocal for absence of the spleen. When they were compared with the 99mTc-PIPIDA hepatobiliary images, a discrepancy in organ morphology between the two scans indicated that the spleen was present, whereas similarity of the two images suggested asplenia. This procedure was useful in establishing asplenia in 4 patients and confirming the presence of a rudimentary or ectopic spleen in 2 others. Unequivocal demonstration of the spleen on the sulfur colloid scans makes the hepatobiliary study unnecessary, while unequivocal demonstration of a normal-appearing liver without splenic activity may warrant a tagged red-cell study for a more complete evaluation.
D004908:Erythrocyte Inclusions; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities*; D013455:Sulfur; D013577:Syndrome; D013667:Technetium; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D013455:Sulfur; D013667:Technetium; C003693:technetium Tc 99m PIPIDA