The value of 99mTc macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scanning in the prediction of postpneumonectomy function and pulmonary artery pressure.

99mTc macroaggregated albumin lung perfusion scans were performed with assessment of pulmonary hemodynamics in 14 male patients with a centrally located lung tumor, subjected to pneumonectomy. In 7 patients perfusion of the affected lung was less than one third of total perfusion. However, all tumors were resectable. Results show that predictive value of the perfusion scan was significant (p less than 0.02) with regard to forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1, r = 0.80). A fair but not significant correlation existed in the prediction of vital capacity (VC, r = 0.64) and total lung capacity (TLC, r = 0.71). No correlation was found between perioperative change in mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) and either relative radionuclide uptake of the affected lung or predicted FEV1. So, the lung perfusion scan cannot be used in preoperative estimation of postoperative MPAP.