Tracheobronchomalacia incidentally detected on Tc-99m ventilation/perfusion SPECT.

Abstract

A Tc-99m Technegas MAA-SPECT was performed on an 81-year-old woman to exclude pulmonary embolism. It showed hypoperfusion and practically absent ventilation of the entire left lung, suggesting a left-sided centrally localized airway obstruction or compression with secondary hypoxic vasoconstriction. Subsequent bronchoscopy and CT scan detected tracheobronchomalacia with significant narrowing of the left bronchus.Tracheobronchomalacia is a rare, benign condition, referring to the deficiency in cartilage of the tracheobronchial tree, caused by a variety of factors.

• Authors: Sylvia Deryk, Koenraad Nieboer, Gaëtane Ceulemans, Axel Bossuyt, Christian Vanhove, Hendrik Everaert
• Journal: Clinical nuclear medicine (Clin Nucl Med) Vol. 34 Issue 9 Pg. 622-4 (Sep 2009) ISSN: 1536-0229 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19692830 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Technegas
• Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m

Topics

• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Incidental Findings
• Pulmonary Ventilation
• Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
• Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Tracheobronchomalacia (diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)