Diagnostic value of 99Tcm-d,l-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scintigraphy in the detection of vascular graft infections.
Prosthetic vascular graft infection is a relatively uncommon complication of peripheral vascular surgery. We retrospectively analysed technetium-99m-d,l-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99Tcm-d,l-HMPAO) labelled leukocyte scans of 21 patients with a suspected vascular graft infection. Operative findings, bacteriological cultures, radiological findings or clinical follow-up were used to confirm the diagnosis. We found eight true-positive and six true-negative cases. There were no false-positive scintigraphic diagnoses. The false-negative rate was 33% (n = 7). Our results show a sensitivity of 53%, a specificity of 100% and an accuracy of 66%. The conclusion is that a negative 99Tcm-d,l-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scan is of limited value in ruling out a vascular graft infection. A combination of computed tomography (CT-scan) and a 99Tcm-d,l-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scan is probably the most efficient way of diagnosing a vascular graft infection.
Krznaric
E
E
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium.
Nevelsteen
A
A
van Hoe
L
L
de Roo
M
M
Schiepers
C
C
Verbruggen
A
A
Mortelmans
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime