PURPOSE: We evaluated hemodynamic significance of stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) using acetazolamide perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 171 patients, stenosis in internal carotid artery (ICA) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) (ICA-MCA) on MRA and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) of MCA territory on SPECT was measured using quantification and a 3-grade system. Stenosis and CVR grades were compared with each other, and their prognostic value for subsequent stroke was evaluated. RESULTS: Of 342 ICA-MCA, 151 (44%) presented stenosis on MRA; grade 1 in 69 (20%) and grade 2 in 82 (24%) cases. Decreased CVR was observed in 9% of grade 0 stenosis, 25% of grade 1, and 35% of grade 2. The average CVR of grade 0 was significantly different from grade 1 (p<0.001) and grade 2 stenosis (p=0.007). In quantitative analysis, average CVR index was -0.56+/-7.91 in grade 0, -1.81+/-6.66 in grade 1 and -1.18+/-5.88 in grade 2 stenosis. Agreement between stenosis and CVR grades was fair in patients with lateralizing and non-lateralizing symptoms (kappa=0.230 and 0.346). Of the factors tested, both MRA and CVR were not significant prognostic factors (p=0.104 and 0.988, respectively), whereas hypertension and renal disease were significant factors (p<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: A considerable proportion of ICA-MCA stenosis detected on MRA does not cause CVR impairment despite a fair correlation between them. Thus, hemodynamic state needs to be assessed for evaluating significance of stenosis, particularly in asymptomatic patients.
*Acetazolamide ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain/blood supply/radionuclide imaging ; Carotid Artery, Internal/physiopathology/radionuclide imaging ; Carotid Stenosis/physiopathology/*radionuclide imaging ; *Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diuretics ; Female ; *Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; *Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon/*methods

We report on an angioedema patient with a genetic defect in complement 1 inhibitor, manifesting migraine-like episodes of headache, effective prophylaxis with Danazol, and triptan for a treatment of acute clinical episode. The patient was 44-yr-old Korean man with abdominal pain and headache, who was brought into the Emergency Department of Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul. He suffered from frequent attacks of migraine-like headache (3-7 per month), pulsating in nature associated with nausea. Severities were aggravated by activity and his headache had shown recent progression with abdominal pain. No remarkable findings were observed on radiologic examination, brain magnetic resonance images and intracranial and extracranial magnetic resonance angiography. Danazol 200 mg every other day was subsequently used. Following administration of Danazol, symptoms showed improvement and the patient was discharged. While taking Danazol, the migraine-like episodes appeared to be prevented for about 2 yr. At the eighth month, he suffered a moderate degree of migraine-like headache; however, administration of naratriptan 2.5 mg resolved his problem. A case of genetic defect of C1-INH deficiency presented with headache episodes, and was controlled by Danazol and triptan. It suggests that pathogenic mechanism of headache in hereditary angioedema may be mediated by the neurogenic inflammatory-like physiology of migraine.
Adult ; Angioedemas, Hereditary/*complications/diagnosis/*genetics ; Brain/radionuclide imaging ; Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein/*genetics/metabolism ; Danazol/therapeutic use ; Estrogen Antagonists/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Migraine Disorders/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*etiology ; Piperidines/therapeutic use ; Tryptamines/therapeutic use ; Vasoconstrictor Agents/therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDRegional ejection fraction (EF(R)) measured by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) provides a novel method for quantifying left-ventricular (LV) regional systolic function. We aimed to explore the diagnostic value of regional ejection fraction (EFR) derived from RT-3DE in detecting LV aneurysms in patients with myocardial infarction.

METHODSThirty-eight patients with myocardial infarction were prospectively enrolled and underwent electrocardiography (ECG), two-dimensional echocardiography (2-DE), RT-3DE and left ventriculography (LVG). Subjects with a negative EFR in at least one segment on RT-3DE were considered as having a ventricular aneurysm. We compared the sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index, and positive and negative predictive values of ECG, 2-DE and RT-3DE in determining LV aneurysm with detection by LVG.

RESULTSOn LVG an LV aneurysm was diagnosed in 16 (42.1%) patients. The sensitivity and specificity were 62.5% and 86.4% for ECG, 81.2% and 95.4% for 2-DE, and 100.0% and 90.9% for RT-3DE in diagnosing LV aneurysm. Youden's indexes for ECG, 2-DE and RT-3DE were 0.49, 0.77 and 0.91, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 76.9% and 76.0% for ECG, 92.9% and 87.5% for 2-DE, and 88.9% and 100.0% for RT-3DE.

CONCLUSIONSRT-3DE-derived EFR provides a novel, reliable index in the diagnosis of LV aneurysm and has excellent sensitivity and specificity.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; methods ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Ventriculography ; methods ; Stroke Volume ; physiology

The non-specificity of symptoms of pulmonary embolism (PE) makes imaging studies essential. The ventilation-perfusion lung scan (VQ) is the most frequently done nuclear medicine test for PE but the length of imaging time is inconvenient to the patient. The purpose of this study is to evaluate planar and SPECT lung perfusion scans interpreted using the PISA-PED criteria. In determining the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the two imaging techniques, we also aim to present a simplified imaging method that foregoes the ventilation scan in the diagnosis of PE. This could lead to a change in the standard VQ scintigraphy protocol being used by nuclear medicine centers in the Philippines. This is a prospective study wherein fourteen patients suspected of having PE underwent planar and SPECT perfusion scans and CT pulmonary angiography, which was used as the gold standard for diagnosing PE. Planar and SPECT specificities and positive predictive values were the same at 100%. The sensitivity, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SPECT (85.7%,87.5%,92.8%, respectively) were all higher than planar scans (71.4%, 77.8%, 85.7%, respectively. A SPECT perfusion scan is superior to a planar perfusion scan in detecting pulmonary embolism. This implies that the standard ventilation-perfusion scan used by nuclear medicine centers in the country can be simplified. A ventilation scan can be omitted.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Aged ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Angiography ; Nuclear Medicine ; Perfusion Imaging ; Philippines ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, Emission-computed, Single-photon ; Tomography, X-ray Computed ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; Lung Diseases

OBJECTIVETo evaluate radionuclide scrotal imaging (RSI) in the diagnosis of varicocele.

METHODSWe performed physical examination (PE) and RSI for 126 patients with infertility for at least 12 months and seminal abnormality, obtained the scrotal blood-pool index (SBPI), observed the reflux in the spermatic vein during RSI, typed and graded varicocele by color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and compared the results of PE and RSI with those of CDFI.

RESULTSThe rates of sensitivity and specificity of RSI in the diagnosis of varicocele (96.5% and 97.1%) were both higher than those of PE (71.7% and 69.1%).

CONCLUSIONSimple, accurate and noninvasive, RSI is an effective method for the diagnosis of clinical and subclinical varicocele.

Adult ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radionuclide Angiography ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scrotum ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Varicocele ; complications ; diagnosis

A 20-year-old man underwent a Tc-99m HMPAO labeled leukocyte scan for the evaluation of an infection at the stump of an AK amputation, which was conducted due to an open communicated fracture of the left lower leg. Blood-flow and blood-pool images demonstrated a pseudoaneurysm with a focus of intense activity medial to the stump, and centered within a large photopenic defect by surrounding hematoma. Delayed image obtained at 3 hours post-injection showed persistent intense and slight increased activity. Contrast angiography confirmed the presence of a pseudoaneurysm arising from a branch of the left superficial femoral artery.
Amputation Stumps* ; Amputation* ; Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Femoral Artery ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Leg ; Leukocytes* ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the infarct sites in patients with inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) concomitant with ST segment elevation in leads V1-V3 and leads V3R-V5R.

METHODSFive patients diagnosed as inferior, right ventricular, and anteroseptal walls AMI at admission were enrolled. Electrocardiographic data and results of isotope 99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) myocardial perfusion imaging and coronary angiography (CAG) were analyzed.

RESULTSElectrocardiogram showed that ST segment significantly elevated in standard leads II, III, aVF, and leads V1-V3, V3R-V5R in all five patients. The magnitude of ST segment elevation was maximal in lead V1 and decreased gradually from lead V1 to V3 and from lead V1 to V3R-V5R. There was isotope 99mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging defect in inferior and basal inferior-septal walls. CAG showed that right coronary artery was infarct-related artery.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnostic criteria for basal inferior-septal wall AMI can be formulated as follows: (1) ST segment elevates > or = 2 mm in lead V1 in the clinical setting of inferior wall AMI; (2) the magnitude of ST segment elevation is the tallest in lead V1 and decreases gradually from lead V1 to V3 and from lead V1 to V3R-V5R. With two conditions above, the basal inferior-septal wall AMI should be diagnosed.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; Diagnostic Errors ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Radionuclide Imaging

The accurate diagnosis and localization of gastrointestinal bleeding may use many tests and procedures including serial hematocrits, angiography, scintigraphy, endoscopy, nasogastric aspiration, barium studies and surgery before success is achieved. However, lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is difficult to localize despite above diagnostic procedures. We had experienced a case of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of jejunum. In this case, a 61-year-old male was admitted to our hospital with recurrent lower GI bleeding. The cause of recurrent lower GI bleeding was not defined by extensive evaluation including gastrofiberoscopy, colonoscopy, mesenteric angiography, small bowel series. We diagnosed this case as low grade B cell MALT lymphoma after exploratory laparatomy due to bowel perforation.
Angiography ; Barium ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis ; Endoscopy ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Jejunum* ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane* ; Radionuclide Imaging

OBJECTIVETo compare the diagnostic value of (99)Tc(m)-MAA pulmonary perfusion imaging with that of pulmonary angiography for pulmonary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis.

METHODSTwenty-one patients (19 women, 2 men), with diagnosed Takayasu's arteritis and underwent both (99)Tc(m)-MAA pulmonary perfusion imaging and pulmonary angiography, were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOut of the 21 patients, pulmonary angiography detected 11 patients with pulmonary artery involvement whereas 13 patients were revealed perfusion defects by pulmonary perfusion imaging. The agreement of diagnosis by pulmonary perfusion imaging with that by pulmonary angiography existed in 19 patients (90.5%, Kappa = 0.81, P < 0.0001). There were 331 pulmonary segments consistently diagnosed by pulmonary perfusion imaging and pulmonary angiography in 378 pulmonary segments (87.5%, Kappa = 0.74, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary perfusion imaging is highly accorded with pulmonary angiography in detecting the pulmonary involvement in Takayasu's arteritis. Therefore, pulmonary perfusion imaging could be used as a non-invasive screening test for the pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu's arteritis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Radionuclide Angiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Takayasu Arteritis ; diagnostic imaging ; Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Arteriovenous malformation is a vascular malformation with fast-flow shunt from the artery to the vein. Extracranial arteriovenous malformation in the head and neck (HNAVM) is so rare that there have been no systematical reports related to it in Korea. Authors aimed to suggest the treatment protocols for HNAVM through retrospective analysis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 19 patients with extracranial HNAVM, who had been diagnosed and treated between 1995 and 2001. Mean follow-up duration was 27.3 months. The mean age at detection was 13.2 years old. The cheek was the most frequently suffered site. We used MRI, angiography, and 99mTechnetium (Tc) RBC scintigraphy for the diagnosis and follow-up of HNAVM. For the treatment, ethanol sclerotherapy, excision, and embolization were adopted alone or in variable combination. RESULTS: Angiography was confirmative of the diagnosis and MRI was excellent in evaluating the extent of the disease. Ethanol sclerotherapy was used as the first line of treatment for 11 cases. For others, surgical excision combined with embolization was used as the first line of treatment for 7 patients and the second choice for 6 patients. 99mTc RBC scintigraphy was useful in quantifying the response after treatment. Fifteen out of 19 patients finally achieved 75% or more reduction in their size of lesions. There were 5 permanent complications from the total of 37 procedures. CONCLUSION: For those cases of HNAVM that had the nidus accessible via the percutaneous route, ethanol sclerotherapy worked as the first-line treatment. For other HNAVM cases, surgical excision with embolization might be the best choice of treatment.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Cheek ; Clinical Protocols ; Diagnosis* ; Ethanol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head* ; Humans ; Korea ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medical Records ; Neck* ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerotherapy ; Vascular Malformations ; Veins