V/P scan in diagnosis and follow-up of pulmonary embolism in 15-25-year-old females in relation to hormonal contraception use

Background: An analysis of medical records of young females who were examined in our department during a five-year period (2005-2009) on suspicion of pulmonary embolism (PE) in relation to hormonal contraception (HC). Material and methods: The patient sample included 86 young females aged 15–25 (mean 21) years who underwent a ventilation/ perfusion scintigraphy (V/P scan). Seventeen of them were examined repeatedly. Altogether, 114 scintigraphic examinations were performed. Lung perfusion scintigraphy was performed using a planar gamma camera (Mediso MB 9200) in 4 projections following 100 MBq 99mTc — MAA i.v. application with 81 mKr ventilation scintigraphy concurrently. Results: 1. Among 57/86 (66%) patients on HC, 24 (42%) had scintigraphic signs of PE. 2. 11/57 (19%) of them had clinical signs of deep venous system thrombosis of the lower limbs that were confirmed by sonography. 3. Leiden mutation was found in 9/24 (37%) patients with PE. 4. Among 29/86 (34%) females not taking HC, PE was detected in only 3 patients (10%). 5. 10/17 (59%) repeatedly examined females had permanent post-embolic residual changes of lung perfusion. Conclusions: In our group of patients who underwent a P/V scan, 42% of those on HC were diagnosed with PE on scintigraphy, compared to 10% of those not taking HC. Among the patients with PE, there were 10/24 (42%) young females with persistent post-embolic changes. Our study indicates that the well-known risk of venous thromboembolism related to the use of HC needs to be considered as a cause of PE even among very young females. In our experience, prevention of these life-threatening conditions in patients with a family history of venous thromboembolism consists of timely examination of their thrombotic profile and selection of appropriate contraception. Nuclear Med Rev 2011; 14, 2: 63–6