Scintigraphic detection of pulmonary embolization of esophageal variceal sclerosant

Intravariceal injection of a sodium morrhuate sclerosant solution, an effective therapy for bleeding esophageal varices, is complicated occasionally by fever and pneumonia. To determine if embolization of sclerosant to or through the pulmonary circulation occurs, chest scintigrams were performed following intravariceal injection of 1-3 mCi 99m-Tc-MAA mixed with 5-20cc of sclerosant in 18 patients undergoing a total of 25 sclerotherapy sessions. Sclerosant embolization was documented in 15/25 procedures (60%). Tracer localization in esophageal veins cephalad to the injection site (gastroesophageal junction) occurred in 2 studies. Atelactasis, effusion, or infiltrate on chest x-ray occurred after 6/25 procedures. Post-sclerosis fever (> 99.5°F) occurred in 5/15 (33%) with embolization and in 1/10 (10%) without. However, neither x-ray abnormalities nor fever were positively correlated with sclerosant embolization. We conclude that embolization of sclerosant to the pulmonary arterial circulation occurs frequently. Chest radiographs may be negative despite significant embolization. We conclude that embolization of sclerosant to the pulmonary arterial circulation occurs frequently. Chest radiographs may be negative despite significant embolization.