Nonsegmental ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy mismatch after radiation therapy.
OBJECTIVE
This report illustrates the utility of ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy in differentiating radiation pneumonitis from other causes of dyspnea, including pulmonary embolism, heart failure, obstructive tumor, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


RESULTS
A nonsegmental mismatched perfusion abnormality, which exactly conformed to a radiation port, was diagnostic of radiation pneumonitis.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with lung tumors presenting with dyspnea, ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy may be useful in diagnosing radiation pneumonitis and effectively excluding other causes of dyspnea.
Chin
B B
BB
Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA. bchin@rad.jhu.edu
Welsh
J S
JS
Kleinberg
L
L
Ettinger
D
D
White
P
P
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin