Bone scintigraphy imaging of cardiac amyloidosis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis) is a severe, progressive cardiac disease with limited diagnostic specificity.
• Echocardiography and histological analysis are traditional diagnostic methods, often leading to underdiagnosis.
• Nuclear imaging with 99mtechnetium-labeled bone tracers can detect myocardial amyloid deposits.

Observation:

• A 76-year-old man presented with clinical features suggestive of amyloidosis.
• A bone scan was performed, revealing characteristic features of ATTR amyloidosis.
• This represents the first reported case of ATTR amyloidosis diagnosed via bone scan in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Findings:

• Bone scan imaging demonstrated successful localization of amyloid deposits in the myocardium.
• The imaging findings were consistent with transthyretin-related cardiac amyloidosis.
• This case highlights the potential utility of bone scintigraphy in diagnosing ATTR amyloidosis.

Implications:

• Bone scan imaging may offer a non-invasive method for diagnosing ATTR amyloidosis, potentially improving early detection rates.
• This diagnostic approach could be particularly valuable in regions with limited access to advanced cardiac imaging or invasive procedures.
• Further research is warranted to validate the role of bone scan tracers in differentiating cardiac amyloidosis subtypes and their clinical impact.