%0 Journal Article
%T Vertebral Uptake of Tc-99m Macroaggregated Albumin (MAA) with SPECT/CT Occurring in Superior Vena Cava Obstruction
%A Hani Hassoun
%A Shawn Karls
%A Vilma Derbekyan
%J Archive of "Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging".
%D 2016
%R 10.1007/s13139-015-0372-y
%X A 67-year-old male presented with dyspnea for which lung scintigraphy was ordered to rule out pulmonary embolus. Planar images demonstrated abnormal midline uptake of Tc-99m macroaggregated albumin, which SPECT/CT localized to several thoracic vertebrae. Thoracic vertebral uptake on perfusion lung scintigraphy was previously described on planar imaging. Radionuclide venography and contrast-enhanced CT subsequently demonstrated superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction with collateralization through the azygous/hemiazygous system and vertebral venous plexus. SPECT/CT differentiated residual esophageal/tracheal ventilation activity, a clinically insignificant finding, from vertebral uptake indicative of SVC obstruction, a potentially life-threatening condition
%K Tc-99m-MAA
%K Nuclear medicine
%K SPECT
%K Pulmonary embolism
%K Superior vena cava obstruction
%K Collateral circulation
%U https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4977247/