Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation Diagnosed With Radionuclide Angiography

• Published in: Clinical nuclear medicine 1995-12, Vol.20 (12), p.1097-1099
• Main Authors: ÜNAL, SEHER N, MUDUN, AYSE, ERTUGRUL, ESEN, ARSEVEN, ORHAN, CANTEZ, SEMA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Arteriovenous Malformations - diagnosis; Arteriovenous Malformations - diagnostic imaging; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Abscess - diagnosis; Brain Abscess - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Pulmonary Artery - abnormalities; Pulmonary Veins - abnormalities; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radionuclide Imaging; Respiratory system; Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0363-9762; 1536-0229
• DOI: 10.1097/00003072-199512000-00018

A 22-year-old man felt spasticity on his right arm and leg after diving to 20 m. He had a headache and was confused. Central cyanosis, clubbing, and right hemiplegia were bobserved on physical examination. Chest x-rays revealed a soft tissue density in the right lung, and cranial MRI showed a left frontal abscess. CT-guided lung biopsy could not be achieved because of the bleeding of the lesion. The bleeding and the presence of a cerebral abscess suggested pulmonary arteriovenous malformation. Becuase contrast angiography could not be performed due to reported allergy, pulmonary arteriovenous malformation was diagnosed by radionuclide angiography and Tc-99m MAA perfusion lung scan, and was confirmed by MR imaging. The Patient was treated by stereotactic drainage of the abscess and antibiotic therapy. The abscess subsided gradually. CT and neurologic examination was normal 1 month later.