SCINTIGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF DISTAL EXTREMITY PERFUSION IN 17 PATIENTS

To assess the role of scintigraphic evaluation of distal limb perfusio n, the medical records and scintigraphic perfusion images of 17 animal s (8 dogs, 2 cats, 2 calves, 4 birds and 1 ferret) with clinical signs of distal limb ischemia were examined retrospectively. Images were ob tained at 5 and 10 minutes following injection of Tc-99m-MDP, or Tc-99 m-DTPA. The initial scintigraphic diagnoses of 17 animals included com plete ischemia (8/17), partially reduced perfusion (5/17), and normal to increased perfusion (4/17), In 4 of the animals with partially redu ced perfusion, follow-up scans indicated progression to complete ische mia (1/4) or normal to increased perfusion (3/4), Nine of 17 animals h ad a final scintigraphic diagnosis of complete distal limb ischemia, a nd these animals were either euthanized (5/9) or had limb amputation ( 4/9), A final diagnosis of complete ischemia was supported with either repeat scanning (3/10), continued clinical observation (6/10) and/or pathological examination (10/10), Clinical signs of ischemia resolved in all (7/17) animals with increased or normal perfusion on their fina l scan, Scintigraphy provided a safe and noninvasive assessment of dis tal limb perfusion, which corresponded with clinical outcome.