DPD scan


A DPD scan is a type of nuclear medicine imaging test which uses radioactive technetium-99m and 3,3-diphosphono-1,2-propanodicarboxylic acid to diagnose cardiac amyloidosis. The radiopharmaceutical is taken up only in patients with ATTR amyloidosis, making it a useful tool to differentiate from AL amyloidosis.
DPD is a diphosphonate and can be used as an alternative to HDP or MDP in nuclear medicine bone scintigraphy.

Procedure

DPD scanning typically uses a gamma camera to obtain SPECT images, with an injection followed by an initial scan after 5 minutes, and a second scan after 3 hours.
Images are often scored using the "Perugini system" whereby:
DPD is not currently available in the United States.