Technetium-99m-sulfur colloid SPECT imaging in infants with suspected heterotaxy syndrome.
For the evaluation of a variety of hepatosplenic disorders, SPECT complements planar 99mTc-sulfur colloid liver/spleen imaging. By isolating small, ectopic or poorly functioning spleen(s) from overlying or adjacent liver, SPECT imaging should facilitate identification of splenic tissue in infants with suspected heterotaxy syndrome.


METHODS
During a 10-yr period, 10 planar-only and 9 planar-plus-SPECT liver/spleen scans were obtained from 15 infants, 13 of whom were less than 1 mo of age at first examination. Four of the planar-only group had follow-up planar-plus-SPECT imaging. Scintigraphic diagnosis regarding presence of splenic tissue was correlated with clinical diagnosis.


RESULTS
Thirteen infants had splenic tissue; two were asplenic. Planar-only imaging provided correct diagnoses in six [four with, two without spleen(s)] but was negative or equivocal in four infants. Planar-plus-SPECT imaging was positive in all in whom it was performed; moreover, in 4/13 infants (31%), splenic tissue was documented only by SPECT imaging.


CONCLUSIONS
Particularly when planar views are inconclusive, SPECT imaging is invaluable for identification and localization of functioning splenic tissue in infants with suspected heterotaxy syndrome.
Oates
E
E
Department of Radiology, New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA.
Austin
J M
JM
Becker
J L
JL
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013154:Spleen / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013577:Syndrome; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid