Spleen Scan

[ITP_September_2014]

Below is the information I received regarding a spleen scan.

The typical platelet study entails the following:

1. We take a small volume (approx 50 ml) of the patient's blood on DAY 1

2. We isolate the patient's platelets aseptically, and label them with a small amount (4 MBq, or 108 micro-Curie) In-111

3. We inject this into the patient's antecubital fossa (arm vein).

4. We take images at 1hr, 4hr (on DAY 1), 24hr (on DAY 2) and 48hr (on DAY 3) post-injection, and also take a small blood sample at each time point

5. The nuclear medicine consultant (sometimes in conjunction with haematologists) then compares the pictures and blood 'clearance' (pharmacokinetics) of the patient's platelets, and the study findings (report) is sent to your referring doctor within 3 days of the study.

The risk of such a study is small. The "effective dose" for a platelet study is 1 mSv (staff working in radiology departments are not allowed to receive more than 20 mSv body dose per year, for example). This 1 mSv effective dose is equivalent to 50 chest x-rays, or about a third of the natural background radiation received in a year, or an increased risk of 1 in 77,000. A full-body CT scan typically has an effective dose of 15 mSv, thus 15 times more radiation than the platelet study. I guess another risk (much more difficult to quantify) is the prick of the needle, but I am sure the patient has 'suffered' that many times before.

[Eileen-Emily]

Thank you for such a clear and concise explanation of this test.

[rjsmyth]

Should make this a sticky?

[debra091000]

Where is this test available? I was told it's not available in the United States.

[ITP_September_2014 in reply to debra091000]

I was told they can do the test upstate New York but its not reliable. My Dr. recommends going to St. Barts Hospital in London. I plan to have it done September 26th.

[debra091000 in reply to ITP_September_2014]

I haven't found anywhere in the US that does it.

[debra091000 in reply to ITP_September_2014]

Hi, Did you have the test done? How did it go?

[ITP_September_2014 in reply to debra091000]

Thanks for following up. I had the scan done in London Dec 14th. I found out I'm not a candidate for splenectomy. My next step is trying out Protalex. Its new so i'll be in a study starting next week.