technetium-tc-99m-exametazime and Mediastinal-Diseases

The aim of this study was to determine the normal planar and SPET patterns of the thoracic distribution of 99Tcm-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (99Tcm-HMPAO) in 20 patients who had undergone a previous median sternotomy and without infectious complications at follow-up. The study included anterior and oblique anterior planar views at 4 and 20 h. SPET of the chest was also carried out at 4 and 20 h. At 4 h, the planar views showed low background vascular activity in the lungs and cardiac region in addition to the sternal uptake, which showed two patterns: homogeneous in five patients and heterogeneous in 15. A long and narrow defect of uptake along the sternal midline was the most characteristic finding. At 4 h, in addition to the background vascular activity in the lungs and cardiac region, the greatest uptake on SPET was in the sternum anteriorly and the marrow spine posteriorly without any focal uptake, allowing visualization of the mediastinum free of focal activity. At 20 h, both the planar and SPET images showed a higher organ-to-background ratio. Knowledge of these post-surgical patterns will make it easier to interpret planar and SPET images when 99Tcm-HMPAO-labelled leukocytes are used in the diagnosis of mediastinitis and sternal infections in patients who had previously undergone median sternotomy. Planar views were better for the assessment of sternal uptake, but SPET views were better for the direct visualization of the mediastinum by eliminating overlapping sternal uptake.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Infections; Leukocytes; Male; Mediastinal Diseases; Middle Aged; Radiopharmaceuticals; Reference Values; Sternum; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; Thoracic Surgical Procedures; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

We report a rare case of odontogenic abscess, detected while the patient was in the intensive care unit (ICU), which resulted in sepsis and the patient's death due to mediastinitis, skull osteomyelitis, and deep neck cellulitis. The detection of infectious focus in occult sepsis in ICUs is usually difficult because many diagnostic procedures cannot be conveniently performed. The use of 99mTc-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime-labeled white blood cells scan allowed accurate diagnosis and appropriate surgical drainage.

Topics: Humans; Leukocytes; Male; Mediastinal Diseases; Middle Aged; Neck; Organotechnetium Compounds; Oximes; Periodontal Abscess; Pseudomonas Infections; Radionuclide Imaging; Staphylococcal Infections; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime