Lung Scintigraphy in Post-Lung Transplant Bronchial Stenosis

Bronchial stenosis due to anastomotic stricture is a known complication of lung transplant surgery. Computed tomography and bronchoscopy are frequently employed in the evaluation of this complication. The role of lung scintigraphy is not well defined. The authors report a case of a 59-year-old man who underwent bilateral lung transplantation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Right bronchial stenosis subsequently developed at the site of the anastomosis. CT scan and bronchoscopy demonstrated severe right bronchial stenosis and marked thickening of the bronchial mucosa. Correlative ventilation/perfusion scanning showed almost complete absence of ventilation and perfusion in this lung.