PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - De, Sajal AU - Ravina, Mudalsha AU - Lukose, Tinu AU - G, Ranganath T AU - Sahu, Dibakar TI - Lung Perfusion Scintigraphy in Early Post-COVID-19: A Single Centre Retrospective Study AID - 10.2967/jnmt.121.262440 DP - 2021 Jul 01 TA - Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology PG - jnmt.121.262440 4099 - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/07/30/jnmt.121.262440.short 4100 - http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/early/2021/07/30/jnmt.121.262440.full AB - Purpose: The incidence of thromboembolic complications in COVID-19 infection is well-recognized. The present study retrospectively evaluated the prevalence and distribution of lung perfusion defects in early post-COVID-19 patients with hypoxia and was aimed to identify the risk factors for mismatched perfusion defects. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) of 54 early post-COVID-19 patients (male: 44). Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the risk. Results: The mean age of the study population was 55.4 years (range: 34 to 76). All received prophylactic anticoagulation from the day of hospitalization to the date of perfusion scan. The median interval between COVID-19 positive report and lung perfusion scan was 22 days. Perfusion defects in lungs (of any type) were observed in 47 subjects (87%). Twenty-three subjects (42.6%) had mismatched perfusion defects. Mismatched defects were segmental in 14 (25.9%) and subsegmental in 11 (20.4%) subjects. Older age is at a higher risk for mismatched perfusion defects (Odds ratio: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.99-1.13, P = 0.06). The subjects' serum D-dimer ≥2500 ng/ml before the scan was not at higher risk for mismatched perfusion defects (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.34-3.9, P = 0.83). Conclusion: Despite prophylactic anticoagulation, the mismatched defects, suggestive of pulmonary thromboembolism were observed. Serum D-dimer in early post-COVID-19 is a poor predictor of mismatched perfusion defects. Confirmed evidence of pulmonary embolism by imaging studies should support the decision to extend anticoagulant prophylaxis.