Successfully treated complete atrioventricular block with corticosteroid in a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis: Usefulness of gallium-67 and thallium-201 scintigraphy

A 71-year-old male with sarcoidosis was followed for 6 years without steroi d therapy. He was admitted because of complete atrioventricular block. Ches t X-ray showed hilar lymphadenopathy. Echocardiogram showed mild left ventr icular hypertrophy without local wall thinning, Cardiac sarcoidosis was dia gnosed by a defect of Thallium-201 (Tl-201) imaging and abnormal uptake of Gallium-67 (Ga-67). After the start of corticosteroid therapy, complete atr ioventricular block was recovered. Abnormal uptake of Ga-67 was improved. T l-201 and Ga-67 are useful to diagnose cardiac sarcoidosis, to evaluate the lesion of cardiac involvement and to estimate the efficacy of corticostero id therapy.