Related Experiment Videos
An unusual scintigraphic pattern in sickle cell patients
A M Glaser1, D C Chen, M E Siegel
1Department of Radiology, University of Southern California-Los Angeles County Medical Center 90033.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine
|January 1, 1989
Summary
A unique triangular pattern on nuclear scans may indicate bone marrow expansion in sickle cell disease patients. This finding, more prevalent in younger individuals, aids in diagnosing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Hematology
- Radiology
Background:
- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is characterized by severe anemia and bone marrow hyperactivity.
- Nuclear medicine scans can reveal patterns related to bone marrow function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify scintigraphic patterns correlating with bone marrow hyperactivity in SCD patients.
- To investigate a specific triangular uptake pattern in nuclear scans of SCD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of nuclear medicine scans from 33 SCD patients and 33 age-matched controls.
- Analysis of tracer uptake patterns in distal femurs, proximal tibias, and distal tibias.
- Comparison of a distinct triangular pattern's prevalence between SCD patients and controls.
Main Results:
- A triangular pattern of increased tracer uptake was identified in 65.1% of delayed images and 80.4% of blood pool images in SCD patients.
- This pattern was significantly less common in controls (10.9% of delayed images, 0% of blood pool images; P < 0.001).
- The pattern was more frequent in younger SCD patients (mean age 25.6 years) compared to older ones (mean age 37.5 years).
Conclusions:
- The unique triangular scintigraphic pattern may represent evidence of bone marrow expansion in sickle cell disease.
- Patient age is a significant factor influencing the visualization of this pattern.
- This finding offers a potential imaging biomarker for assessing bone marrow changes in SCD.