111Indium-Chloride Bone Marrow Scintigraphy in Aplastic Anaemia

Abstract

Bone marrow scintigraphy, using 111InCl3, was performed in 24 patients with acquired aplastic anemia to investigate: a possible relationship between bone marrow scintigraphy and peripheral blood cell values, a possible relationship between scintigraphy and histology of the bone marrow and the ability to distinguish various aplastic anemia subtypes with bone marrow scintigraphy. For this purpose a semi-quantitative scoring of scintigraphic results was used. A weak correlation was found between the radionuclide studies and blood counts. An abnormal 111In-scintigraphic activity in the pelvis apparently was related to an abnormal quality and quantity of hematopoietic tissue. To study a correlation with histological subtype grading, the patients were grouped in 4 categories based on clinical-histological results. The presence of 111In-activity in long bones (''scintigraphic extension'') may be an important parameter in distinguishing patients who apparently have primary stem-cell defects from patients who may suffer from auto-aggressive disorders.