Mismatched perfusion defects secondary to recent methyl methacrylate embolization.

Abstract

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) pulmonary embolism is a serious potential complication of percutaneous vertebroplasty. We present a case of a 28-year-old man who presented to an outside institution with pleuritic chest pain after MMA vertebroplasty of the T11 thoracic vertebra for chronic back ache secondary to a previous traumatic fracture. Multifocal MMA pulmonary embolism was identified on CT. The patient was referred to our institution following a wedge resection for pulmonary infarction. V/Q scintigraphy was performed and demonstrated normal ventilation with multiple mismatched perfusion defects bilaterally. Patient subsequently underwent central and bilateral segmental pulmonary embolectomies.