(99m)Tc-HMDP scintigraphy rectifies wrong diagnosis of AL amyloidosis

J Nucl Cardiol. 2015 Aug;22(4):853-7. doi: 10.1007/s12350-015-0176-6. Epub 2015 May 22.

Abstract

A 71-year-old African man without history of cardiac disease was referred to our center for dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac MRI were suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). The diagnosis of the light-chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA) was made after a first endomyocardial biopsy. Accordingly chemotherapy was started. Systematic 99mTc-HMDP scintigraphy showed moderate cardiac uptake (visual score of 2), unusual for AL-CA, and permitted to rectify the diagnosis. Hereditary transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis was confirmed by a second endomyocardial biopsy with a positive Congo-red and anti-transthyretin antibody stainings, mass spectrometry and genetic analysis (Val122Ile mutation).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amyloidosis, Familial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Amyloidosis, Familial / genetics*
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiomyopathies / genetics*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diagnostic Errors / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / analogs & derivatives*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • technetium Tc 99m (Sn) hydroxymethylene diphosphonate
  • Technetium Tc 99m Medronate