Positively labeled white blood cell scan with eosinophilia and absence of infection.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The authors describe the variability of Tc-99m exametazime-labeled leukocyte distribution as a function of the relative frequency of white cell types in the labeled blood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A 76-year-old man who was hospitalized with fever and possible postoperative osteomyelitis underwent scintigraphic imaging with Tc-99m exametazime-labeled leukocytes.

RESULTS:

The white cell scan excluded any discrete focus of infection and revealed diffuse involvement of the lymph nodes and skin. The pathologic diagnosis was angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. The atypical infiltrates seen on the white cell scan can be explained by the severe eosinophilic blood count on the day of leukocyte labeling (total leukocyte count: 8,100 cells/microl with 63% neutrophils, 8.9% lymphocytes, and 22.2% eosinophils).

CONCLUSION:

In the labeling of the leukocyte moiety, a higher presence of any leukocyte subpopulation will modify the biodistribution and thus the image interpretation.

• Authors: Minal S Vasanawala, Michael L Goris
• Journal: Clinical nuclear medicine (Clin Nucl Med) Vol. 28 Issue 5 Pg. 389-91 (May 2003) ISSN: 0363-9762 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12702935 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime

Topics

• Aged
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Eosinophilia (etiology, pathology)
• Fever of Unknown Origin (etiology)
• Humans
• Knee Prosthesis (adverse effects)
• Leukocytes (diagnostic imaging)
• Lymphoma, T-Cell (blood, complications, diagnostic imaging)
• Male
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (diagnostic imaging, etiology)
• Radionuclide Imaging
• Radiopharmaceuticals
• Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime
• Whole-Body Counting (methods)