ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of detecting enterogastric reflux (EGR) by 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy. The lowest detectable activity in the gastric area at different concentrations of the radiotracer in the gallbladder was preliminary measured both in a plastic phantom and in an in vivo model. Ten patients were studied after a single oral administration of 1480 KBq 75Se-HCAT. Gamma camera imaging was carried out for five consecutive days during both fasting and after meal ingestion. In our in vivo model an EGR corresponding to 1% of gallbladder content on day one and 8% on day five was detected. In three out of five patients in whom bile was present in the stomach at endoscopy, 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy demonstrated an EGR, while in three out of five patients in whom endoscopy was negative, 75Se-HCAT cholescintigraphy detected EGR either during fasting or after meal ingestion. As EGR is not constant, 75Se-HCAT may be a useful tracer of bile to detect EGR over a prolonged period of time and in different physiological conditions.
Subject(s)
Bile Reflux/diagnostic imaging , Biliary Tract Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Duodenogastric Reflux/diagnostic imaging , Cholecystectomy , Eating , Gastrectomy , Humans , Postoperative Complications/diagnostic imaging , Radiation Dosage , Radioisotopes , Radionuclide Imaging , Selenium , Taurocholic Acid/analogs & derivativesABSTRACT
Simple and rapid chromatographic systems were used to test the radiochemical purity of eleven 99mTc-diagnostic agents. Those systems were selected which gave no oxidation or other by-products. The tests were done with equipment normally available in Nuclear Medical Departments.
Subject(s)
Technetium/standards , Chromatography, Paper/methods , Quality Control , Technetium/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
In 5 patients with partial gastric resection and esophagitis, in whom esophageal pH metry was unable to demonstrate significant gastroesophageal reflux (GER), we administered i.v. 5 mCi (185 MBq) of 99mTc-HIDA, the patient lying under a computer-assisted LFOV gamma camera. When gallbladder image was evident, caerulein was administered i.v. at a physiologic dose in order to induce gallbladder contraction, and in the subsequent 45 min the patient was asked to perform a standard series of manoeuvres that increase the intraabdominal pressure (Valsalva, etc.) and favour GER. Scintigraphic images and time/activity curves obtained from areas of interest corresponding to gastric remnant and distal esophagus showed that at least one of these manoeuvres in each case was followed by the appearance of the radiocompound in the distal esophagus, indicating a 99mTc-HIDA-tagged bile GER. Consequently, we believe that HIDA-GER dynamic scintigraphy may be more useful than esophageal pH metry in demonstrating the biliary origin of an esophagitis.
Subject(s)
Bile Reflux/diagnostic imaging , Biliary Tract Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnostic imaging , Imino Acids , Technetium , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Radionuclide Imaging , Technetium Tc 99m LidofeninABSTRACT
Seventeen patients, screened from a neonatal programme for hypothyroidism were studied. As well as the scintigraphic investigations, serum TSH, T3, free T3, T4, free T4, and TBG were measured in all patients. Not more than 11.1 MBq (300 microCi) 99mTcO4- was administered IV. A gamma camera with a parallel-hole collimator on line with the computer was used. The method allowed good statistics to be obtained in 5-10 min in a wide field of exploration, thus reducing the problems of positioning and prolonged immobilization of the young patient. The data collected in the computer were elaborated to define better the characteristics of the thyroid image. This kind of in vivo study introduced into a screening programme, enables an 'anatomic' diagnosis of the defect to be obtained before starting the therapy. This is undoubtedly valuable from the epidemiological point of view, enables early determination of the degree of thyroid insufficiency, and contributes to the formulation of a prognosis based on the degree and on the moment in which prenatal harm occurred.
Subject(s)
Congenital Hypothyroidism , Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m , Thyroid Gland/diagnostic imaging , Computers , Female , Humans , Hypothyroidism/blood , Hypothyroidism/diagnostic imaging , Infant, Newborn , Male , Radionuclide Imaging , Thyroid Hormones/bloodSubject(s)
Fourier Analysis , Heart Ventricles , Movement Disorders/diagnosis , Myocardial Infarction/complications , Adult , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A new method of studying regional lung functions using 133Xe and the computer-assisted scintillation camera is described. The method and the computer processing give details of the distribution of 133Xe during perfusion and ventilation and also measures of lung function. Some cases are described in detail, and the clinical significance of the method was confirmed in 45 cases.
