[Hepato-splenic scintigraphy in finding indications of bacterial endocarditis. Preliminary report]. / La centelleografía hepatoesplénica en la búsqueda de indicios de endocarditis bacteriana. Informe preliminar.

Hepato-splenic scintigraphy with 99mTc-S-colloid was performed in twelve patients with bacterial endocarditis. These images showed that the size of the liver varied from normal to a severe hepatomegaly, depending on the presence of congestive heart failure. Intrahepatic distribution of the radiocolloid was slighty irregular in all cases. The spleen was conspicuously enlarged, and showed irregular distribution of the radiopharmaceutical. In some cases intrasplenic concentration defects caused by infarcts, abscesses or cysts, were observed. The relative uptake of radiocolloid by the spleen, varied from hypo- to hyperconcentration according to the degree of lymphoid hyperplasia caused by the infection. In two cases, both with congestive heart failure, concentration of the radiocolloid was evident in the bone marrow. The scintigraphic pattern observed in these patients with bacterial endocarditis can be easily differentiated from that caused by only congestive heart failure, which is similar to the observed in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and/or portal hypertension.

[Comparative study of coronariography and radiocoronariography in ischemic cardiopathy. Preliminary report]. / Estudio comparativo entre la coronariografiá y la radiocoronariografía en la cardiopatía isquémica. Comunicación preliminar.

25 patients with ischemic heart disease were studied by selective coronariography and radiocoronariograpy with 3mCi of human albumin macroaggregates labeled with 99mTc, injected selectively into each coronary artery. Gammagraphic images were then obtained. 17 cases (68%), had coronary obstructions and 8 patients (32%), had a normal coronary angiogram. Of all patients studied, 23 (92%), had areas of hypoperfusion. Patients with coronary obstructions had corresponding image defects. 6 cases with normal coronary angiography had areas of hypoperfusion and finally 2 cases had normal images in both studies. All patients wit EC6 necrosis had abnormal radiocoronariography. The macrocirculation is studied by coronary angiography, while the microcirculation is visualized by radiocoronariography. Both technique are complementary. We conclude that radiocoronariography should be performed routinely after coronary angiography in the study of ischemic heart disease, with special emphasis in cases with normal angiograms.

[Focal defect of perfusion and phagocytic function caused by passive liver congestion. Report of a case]. / Defecto focal de perfusión y de la función fagocítica hepática causadas por la congestión pasiva del higado. Informe de un caso.

A false-positive result of a occupant lesion of the left hepatic lobe is presented in a patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) and subacute bacterial endocarditis (SABE). Both, static liver scintigraphy and dynamic radioangiography showed a focal defect on the upper region of the left lobe, which disappeared with the CHF. It was concluded that this focal defect was caused by passive congestion of the liver. A scintigraphic sign to differentiate congestive splenomegaly to that caused and SABE is described.

[Evaluation of the experience of the observer in the interpretation of myocardial scintillography with radioactive phosphates]. / Valoración de la experiencia del observador en la interpretación de la centelleografía del miocardio con fosfatos radiactivos.

Two-hundred-and five myocardial scans with radioactive phosphates, performed in 185 patients interned at the Coronary Care Unit due to acute chest pain (147 myocardial infarcts: 58 coronary heart disease), were independently interpreted by six observers with different degrees of experience on the lectures of these kind of images (two nuclear physicians, two cardiologists, and two fellows of the Nuclear Medicine Unit). A series of six different grades of myocardial concentration of the radioactive phosphates, related to its osseous concentration were followed. Each observer reported the grade of concentration he found in each image. The fraction of myocardial infarcts and of coronary heart disease found by each observer in every grade of concentration were calculated. With these data, it was determined the optimal criterion level of each observer by which he attained the minor incidence of false negative and false positive results. Four observers found their optimal criterion level on 2F, where grades 0-2D are considered as negative, and grades 2F-4 are considered as positive. One observer found his optimal level at 2D (0-1: -; 2D-4: +) and other at 1 (0: -; 1-4: +. By using a decision matrix which relates results of the test with a binary outcome (normal, abnormal) to the actual diagnosis, also with a binary outcome (infarct, no infarct), the ratios for "sensitivity", "specificity" and "accuracy" were derived for each observer performing at his particular optimal criterion level. Our results suggests that the observer performance depends on his particular degree of experience in interpreting nuclear medical images and on his visual perception. It was concluded that it is necessary to periodically evaluate the individual optimal criterion level of the physicians in charge of the lectures of the myocardial images with radioactive phosphates, liable to shift with time in relation to the experience of the observer. The need of a more objective procedure to quantitate myocardial concentration of the radioactive phosphates is also implied.