Labelled leucocyte scintigraphy in an infected externalized Riata lead.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labelled leucocyte scintigraphy in an infected externalized Riata lead Pier Giorgio Golzio1*, Sabrina Manganiello2, and Fiorenzo Gaita1 Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy and Division of Cardiology, Ospedale Civile, 10073 Ciriè, Italy * Corresponding author. Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular-Thoracic Department, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino—Presidio San Giovanni Battista (‘Molinette’), Corso A. M. Dogliotti, 14, 10126 Torino, Italy. Tel: +39 0116636165, +39 3332274241; fax: +39 0116967053. E-mail address: pg.golzio@ gmail.com Conductors’ externalization of Riata leads may cause abnormal images at transoesophageal echocardiography; therefore, in cases of infection, the early correctdiagnosisof lead-associatedvegetationsmay beprevented. Inblurredclinical settings, leucocyte-labelled scintigraphy may provide unvaluable aid in ascertaining adifficult diagnosis, so strengthening the tough decisionof performing the dangerousand difficult procedure of lead extraction of an externalized Riata.