TITLE:
Lymphoscintigraphy Using Dynamic Imaging and SPECT/CT in Chylothorax
AUTHORS:
Asami Ohtsuka, Yusuke Inoue, Yuji Asano, Reiko Woodhams, Kazu Shiomi
KEYWORDS:
Chylothorax; Lymphoscintigraphy; 99mTc-DTPA-HSA; Dynamic Imaging; SPECT/CT
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Imaging,
Vol.3 No.3,
September
23,
2013
ABSTRACT: Lymphoscintigraphy readily provides confirmation of chylothorax but
not detailed localization of the leakage site. A 77-year-old woman developed
traumatic chylothorax and underwent lymphoscintigraphy with radiolabeled
albumin to identify the site of lymph leakage. Dynamic imaging demonstrated
appearance of focal activity presumably in the upper mediastinum, followed by
spread to the left hemithorax. Subsequently, SPECT/CT showed that the leakage
site was located in the left side of the upper mediastinum, and this location
was confirmed during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Dynamic imaging
demonstrated the site of first appearance of abnormal activity, and SPECT/CT
enabled detailed localization of the abnormal activity with anatomic
correlation. The combination of dynamic imaging with SPECT/CT appears to be
recommendable for lymphoscintigraphic assessment of chylothorax.