[Noninvasive diagnosis of cardiac involvement by technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) myocardial scintigraphy in 2 cases of familial amyloid polyneuropathy and 1 case of secondary amyloidosis]

Kaku Igaku. 1989 Dec;26(12):1537-43.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

To validate the significance of technetium-99m-pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) myocardial scintigraphy in diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis, 2 patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) and 1 patient with amyloidosis secondary to chronic rheumatic arthritis were studied. All three patients had echocardiographic abnormalities, which were increased wall thickness of the interventricular septum and the left ventricular posterior wall, and granular sparkling appearance in the septum. In 2 patients with FAP, abnormal myocardial uptake of Tc-99m PYP was diffusely detected in Tc-99m PYP SPECT. In the remaining 1 patient with secondary amyloidosis, however, Tc-99m PYP SPECT showed no abnormality, although we had confirmed the presence of myocardial amyloid deposits (type AA amyloid protein) with high amount in the histological examination. Thus, these results indicate that Tc-99m PYP scintigraphy may have a limitation in detecting cardiac involvement in secondary amyloidosis although it is useful in FAP.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyloidosis / pathology
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / pathology
  • Diphosphates*
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
  • Technetium*
  • Thallium Radioisotopes

Substances

  • Diphosphates
  • Thallium Radioisotopes
  • Technetium Tc 99m Pyrophosphate
  • Technetium