Quantitative Scintigraphy Imaging of Lingual Raynaud’s Phenomenon Using 3-Dimensional-Ring Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography

Abstract

Perfusion scintigraphy with the acquisition of planar blood flow and pool images of bilateral hands has been used to aid diagnosis and to evaluate treatment response to Raynaud’s phenomenon (decreased blood flow to hand or foot). However, because of the difficulty in imaging the tongue area with a conventional gamma camera, perfusion scintigraphy imaging of patients with lingual Raynaud’s phenomenon has yet to be reported. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old man with lingual Raynaud’s phenomenon in which blood pool imaging of the tongue was performed using three-dimensional (3D)-ring cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). During follow-up, the patient’s lingual symptoms had worsened, and follow-up blood pool SPECT/CT images also revealed decreased blood pool uptake of the tongue, showing a decreased blood pool of more than 25% on quantitative analysis. This case suggests that blood pool imaging of the tongue using 3D-ring CZT SPECT/CT has clinical significance in evaluating patients with lingual Raynaud’s phenomenon.