Unusual high 99mTc-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid (99mTc-DPD) tracer deposition on a heart scintigraphy in a patient with AL amyloidosis: A case report

J Nucl Cardiol. 2021 Jun;28(3):1117-1125. doi: 10.1007/s12350-020-02107-2. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Abstract

We present a case of a 40-year-old Spanish man with cardiac amyloidosis in which a Tc-99m-3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid (Tc-99m-DPD) scintigraphy was strongly suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis by transthyretin (ATTR) but endomyocardial biopsy (EB) analyzed by immunohistochemistry demonstrated a light chain amyloidosis (AL). Even though the Tc-99m-DPD has proven in different published papers that has high sensibility and specificity for differentiating AL and ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, we present an unusual case of an AL cardiac amyloidosis with a Perugini grade 3 on the scintigraphy. Diagnostic approach of cardiac amyloidosis following consensus documents is discussed to avoid diagnostic mistakes based on imaging techniques.

Keywords: Amyloidosis; MRI; cardiac amyloidosis; nuclear imaging; scintigraphy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diphosphonates / pharmacokinetics*
  • Echocardiography
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Diseases / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis / metabolism
  • Male
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / pharmacokinetics*
  • Radionuclide Imaging*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / pharmacokinetics*

Substances

  • Diphosphonates
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • technetium Tc 99m 1,1-diphosphonopropane-2,3-dicarboxylic acid