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Diffuse splenic Tc-99m MDP uptake in hypersplenic patient
A Fuat Yapar1, Mehmet Aydin, Mehmet Reyhan
1Department of Nuclear Medicine, Baskent University Adana Teaching and Research Center, Adana, Turkey. fyapar@dr.com
Annals of Nuclear Medicine
|February 3, 2005
Summary
Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy revealed significant spleen uptake in a patient with sickle cell beta+ thalassemia and pneumoconiosis. This finding highlights spleen involvement in complex hematologic and occupational lung diseases.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Hematology
- Occupational medicine
Background:
- A 52-year-old female marble quarry worker presented with chronic leg pain.
- The patient had a history of pneumoconiosis leading to congestive heart failure.
- Hematologic analysis indicated sickle cell beta+ thalassemia and hypersplenism.
Observation:
- Bone scintigraphy utilized Technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP).
- The study aimed to investigate the cause of nonspecific left leg pain.
- Intense and diffuse Tc-99m MDP accumulation was observed in an enlarged spleen.
Findings:
- The spleen demonstrated significant Tc-99m MDP uptake.
- No ultrasonographic or radiologic evidence of splenic calcification was found.
- The findings suggest abnormal splenic metabolic activity.
Implications:
- Bone scintigraphy can reveal splenic involvement in patients with complex hematologic disorders.
- This case underscores the utility of nuclear medicine in evaluating multifaceted patient conditions.
- Further research may explore Tc-99m MDP uptake as a biomarker for splenic activity in thalassemia and pneumoconiosis.