technetium-tc-99m-sulfur-colloid and Amyloidosis

Topics: Amyloidosis; Colloids; Fatty Liver; Glycogen Storage Disease; Granuloma; Hepatitis, Viral, Human; Hodgkin Disease; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Diseases; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic; Liver Neoplasms; Radionuclide Imaging; Sulfur; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid

The clinical findings in cirrhosis and systemic amyloidosis may be similar, leading to difficulties in diagnosis. We studied three patients with systemic amyloidosis with a 99mTc sulfur colloid liver-spleen scan. In all three patients, uptake by the spleen was less than the liver, in contrast with the increased splenic uptake seen in patients with cirrhosis. The liver-spleen scan may be a useful tool in differentiating patients with cirrhosis from those with systemic amyloidosis when clinical findings fail to give the proper diagnosis.

Topics: Aged; Amyloidosis; Female; Humans; Liver Diseases; Male; Middle Aged; Radionuclide Imaging; Splenic Diseases; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid

Topics: Amyloidosis; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radionuclide Imaging; Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid

Technetium-99m sulfur colloid (SC) and Technetium-99m pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigrams in a patient with idiopathic systemic amyloidosis were abnormal. Hepatic SC distribution was nonhomogeneous. Spleen showed reduced SC uptake and a large focal defect at its upper pole. Splenic localization of PYP was seen on a bone scan. On histologic examination the abnormal scintigraphic sites showed heavy amyloid deposition. Splenic localization of skeletal radiotracer due to amyloidosis has not been previously reported.

Topics: Amyloidosis; Colloids; Diphosphates; Humans; Liver; Male; Middle Aged; Radionuclide Imaging; Spleen; Sulfur; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate; Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid