Pericardial abscess detected by Gallium-67 scintigraphy 40 years after cardiac surgery

Int Heart J. 2005 Nov;46(6):1119-22. doi: 10.1536/ihj.46.1119.

Abstract

A 45-year-old female who had cardiac surgery 40 years earlier was transferred to our hospital because of refractory fever. Echocardiography showed an intrapericardial mass. Gallium-67 (67Ga) scintigraphy revealed abnormal accumulation at the same site of the intrapericardial mass and thoracoscopy revealed that the mass was a pericardial abscess (PA). After surgical resection, drainage and antibiotic therapy, her fever subsided and the abnormal accumulation of 67Ga disappeared. This case showed a very rare clinical course of PA and the importance of 67Ga scintigraphy for its diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abscess / diagnostic imaging*
  • Abscess / surgery
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures*
  • Female
  • Gallium Radioisotopes*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardium / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pericardium / pathology
  • Pericardium / surgery
  • Postoperative Period
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Thoracoscopy

Substances

  • Gallium Radioisotopes