Cardiac scintigraphy with 99mTc-diphosphonates in cardiac amyloidosis

Abstract

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR) has traditionally been considered a rare, difficult-to-diagnose and untreatable disease. However, its prevalence is known to be greater than what was previously thought, non-invasive diagnostic methods are available, and that effective treatments are emerging. In this context, cardiac scintigraphy (CS) with ^99mTc-labelled diphosphonates has aroused a noticeable surge in interest by demonstrating high sensitivity and specificity for the reliable, non-invasive diagnosis of ATTR. By way of a guide, this article aims to identify the critical components in the performance of CS that are useful in everyday clinical practice and, thus, help specialists use optimal radiopharmaceuticals, obtain the most appropriate images, interpret the results thereof, and acquaint themselves with those clinical scenarios in which it is convenient to perform CS.

Keywords: (99m)Tc-difosfonatos; (99m)Tc-diphosphonates; ATTR; Amiloidosis cardíaca; Cardiac amyloidosis; Gammagrafía; Scintigraphy.