Tc-99m macro aggregated albumin scintigraphy – indications other than pulmonary embolism: A pictorial essay
A 35-year-old female who is a known case of multidrug resistant tuberculosis presented with orthopnea, left sided chest pain and productive cough. Her chest X-ray was suggestive of pyopneumothorax. Intercostal drain insertion and pleural fluid aspiration was done. As patient's condition was not improving by medical management, surgical management was contemplated. She underwent pulmonary function test, which showed adequate FEV1 value. In view of extensive involvement of the left lung parenchyma, cardiothoracic surgeon wanted to predict the post-operative FEV1 by virtue of a lung perfusion scintigraphy. The calculated differential MAA distribution in the left lung was 9% and hence, we predicted a 9% loss of the estimated FEV1 post-pneumonectomy. Patient was thus cleared for surgery [Figures and ].