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. 2016 Jul-Sep;31(3):246-7.
doi: 10.4103/0972-3919.181832.

Depiction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt obstruction with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography

Sabire Yılmaz Aksoy  1 , Betül Vatankulu  2 , Lebriz Uslu  2 , Metin Halac  2
Affiliations

Depiction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt obstruction with single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography

Sabire Yılmaz Aksoy et al. Indian J Nucl Med. 2016 Jul-Sep.

Abstract

An 83-year-old male patient with ventriculoperitoneal shunt underwent radionuclide shunt study using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) to evaluate the shunt patency. The planar images showed activity at the cranial region and spinal canal but no significant activity at the peritoneal cavity. However, SPECT/CT images clearly demonstrated accumulation of activity at the superior part of bifurcation level with no activity at the distal end of shunt as well as no spilling of radiotracer into the peritoneal cavity indicating shunt obstruction. SPECT/CT makes the interpretation of radionuclide shunt study more accurate and easier as compared with traditional planar images.

Keywords: Shunt patency; single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography; ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) An 83-year-old male patient with ventriculoperitoneal shunt implanted for normal pressure hydrocephalus underwent radionuclide shunt study by direct administration of 6 mCi of technetium-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid into the shunt reservoir. The anterior-posterior static imaging of the vertex-thoracic region at 30 min after injection shows very intense radiotracer uptake at the cranial region and transit of activity through the proximal part of the shunt. (b) However, subsequent anterior-posterior static images of thoracoabdominal region demonstrate linear extension of activity through the distal part of shunt without significant spread to the remainder of the peritoneal cavity
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a) Upon this, single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images were acquired from the vertex to pelvis. Cranial sections revealed the passage of activity to the proximal part of spinal canal indicating proximal patency of the shunt. (b and c) However, abdominal slices showed accumulation of activity at the superior part of bifurcation level with no activity at the distal end of shunt as well as no spilling of radiotracer into the peritoneal cavity indicating shunt obstruction
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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