title: Role of gallium SPECT-CT in the diagnosis of left ventricular assist device infections.
abstract: Infection remains a well-established complication after the placement of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). Defining the extent of infection is a challenging task as there are few effective imaging modalities and no standardized guidelines regarding imaging in the diagnosis of device-related infections (DRIs). The use of gallium with single photon emission tomography-computed tomography (Ga-SPECT-CT) has not been previously reported in localizing DRIs. We reviewed the charts and images of five patients with LVADs who underwent Ga-SPECT-CT for the diagnosis of various types of DRIs. Gallium SPECT-CT further clarified the extent of infections among LVAD patients, allowing for patient-specific tailored treatments including surgical debridement. Gallium SPECT-CT is a useful tool when diagnosing LVAD infections and could potentially be the imaging modality of choice in the near future. With improved imaging studies, such as Ga-SPECT-CT, allowing for earlier and more accurate diagnoses of DRIs, the outcome of such infections is likely to improve.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, †Department of Radiology, and ‡Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Dana T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Grace Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Minamoto
authors.forename: Raphaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Yoram A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Puius
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: Victoria A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Muggia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes