Technetium-99mm macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans detected right lung perfusion abnormalities in 54% of patients with congenital heart defects and was more sensitive than chest radiology.
Observational (n=63)
Does lung perfusion evaluation with technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin improve detection of lung perfusion abnormalities compared to chest radiology in patients with congenital heart defects?
Technetium-99m macroaggregated albumin perfusion scanning is a sensitive method for detecting lung perfusion abnormalities in patients with congenital heart defects, particularly those with prior shunts or right ventricular outflow reconstruction.
In 63 patients with various congenital heart defects, lung perfusion was evaluated with technetium-99mm macroaggregated albumin. Right lung perfusion abnormalities were documented in 34 patients (54%). A particularly high incidence occurred in patients who had undergone a systemic to pulmonary artery shunt operation as an initial palliative procedure or who had had right ventricular outflow reconstruction and in those with bilateral pulmonary artery stenosis. Serial studies were helpful in evaluating the functional results of different transcatheter interventions for optimizing pulmonary blood flow. The quantitative relative perfusion radionuclide method was a more sensitive means of detecting cases of abnormal lung perfusion than was chest radiology.
Tamir et al. (1992) conducted an observational in Congenital heart defects (n=63). Technetium-99mm macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scan vs. Chest radiology was evaluated on Right lung perfusion abnormalities. Technetium-99mm macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans detected right lung perfusion abnormalities in 54% of patients with congenital heart defects and was more sensitive than chest radiology.