ABNORMAL TL-201 MYOCARDIAL SCINTIGRAPHY ASSOCIATED WITH ADMINISTRATION OF SODIUM AUROTHIOMALATE

A patient with strikingly reduced TI-201 myocardial retention after in tramuscular administration of gold therapy (sodium aurothiomalate) is described. Following a routine Bruce protocol exercise test, postexerc ise scintigraphy was normal; an abnormal scan of the thorax was obtain ed on delayed imaging at 3 hours. This scan showed no demonstrable myo cardial retention of tracer. In between the two acquisitions, the pati ent received 50 mg intramuscular sodium aurothiomalate for rheumatoid arthritis. A repeat scan obtained 3 days later showed a normal myocard ial scintigram. It is recommended that patients receiving intramuscula r gold therapy should not undergo such treatment close to the timing o f TI-201 myocardial scans.