Radionuclide venography as a clue to the diagnosis of Budd-Chiari syndrome

Ann Nucl Med. 1996 Feb;10(1):139-42. doi: 10.1007/BF03165068.

Abstract

A patient was examined with radionuclide venography (RVG) to investigate unilateral leg oedema which might be due to deep vein thrombosis. RVG with Tc-99m MAA demonstrated no findings to suggest deep vein thrombosis of the right leg. However, collateral flow derived from the left common iliac vein and truncated inferior vena cava (IVC) were revealed. Contrast venography confirmed the obstruction of IVC and collateral flow from the left common iliac vein to the left ascending lumbar vein. It also showed the obstruction of hepatic veins and the patient was finally diagnosed as Budd-Chiari syndrome. Although unilateral leg oedema is an atypical symptom in Budd-Chiari syndrome, the findings on RVG led us to conduct further imaging studies to reach the diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Budd-Chiari Syndrome / diagnostic imaging*
  • Edema / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Leg
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Angiography / methods*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • Thrombophlebitis / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • technetium Tc99m-mercaptoacetyl albumin