ABSTRACT
The noninvasive quantification of pulmonary edema could be of importance in patient management. We have developed a portable Compton-scatter densitometer capable of measuring density in the range of 0.1-1 g/cm3 independently of the chest wall. Change in lung density was investigated in 19 dogs with pulmonary edema induced by a combination of raised left atrial pressure and hemodilution. The increase in lung density correlated with the postmortem assessment of lung water (r = 0.862, p less than 0.01) and with hemodynamic indicators of pulmonary edema (r = 0.749, p less than 0.01). Subtracting the intravascular component of lung density did not improve the correlation with postmortem lung water (r = 0.850, p less than 0.01). The measurement of absolute lung density by a Compton-scatter technique may be a potentially useful method of quantifying pulmonary edema.
Subject(s)
Absorptiometry, Photon/methods , Body Water/analysis , Lung/analysis , Pulmonary Edema/diagnostic imaging , Absorptiometry, Photon/instrumentation , Animals , Dogs , Gadolinium , Gamma Rays , Scattering, RadiationABSTRACT
A thyroid fluorescent scanner has proven to be useful for imaging thyroids in cases where isotope scans are contraindicated. Minor modifications of a commercially available scanner make possible total intrathyroidal quantification, which aids in the differentiation between primary and secondary hypothyroidism and in the diagnosis of thyroiditis.
Subject(s)
Fluoroscopy , Iodine , Thyroid Diseases/diagnosis , Costs and Cost Analysis , Female , Humans , Male , MethodsABSTRACT
The use of stable tracers assayed by x-ray fluorescent excitation analysis has proven advantageous over other stable or radioisotopic techniques in a number of clinical and investigative situations. An automated fluorescent excitation analysis system for medical application has developed. Its design parameters and performance are described.
Subject(s)
Spectrometry, Fluorescence , Blood Volume Determination , Bromine , Cesium , Erythrocytes , Extracellular Space , Glomerular Filtration Rate , Humans , Iothalamate Meglumine , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/instrumentation , Spectrometry, Fluorescence/methodsABSTRACT
Nonradioactive cesium, as an analogue of potassium, has been used to label autologous red blood cells for determination of the red cell volume in man. The initial and the equilibration concentrations of cesium are assayed by fluorescent excitation analysis (FEA), using a 600 mCi 241Americium source and a Si(Li) detector with a 1024-channel analyzer. Comparative studies with 51Chromium in 13 rabbits showed good correlation, but the intracellular cesium concentration achieved by simple incubation with 2.6 per cent cesium chloride solution was too low to be of practical value in humans. Incubation of the human red blood cells with 50 mug per milliliter of Nystatin in 2.6 per cent cesium chloride opened reversible "pores" in the red cell membrane which permitted high intracellular cesium labeling without demonstrable red cell damage. The cesium red cell volumes in 11 random human subjects differed from the 51Chromium red cell volumes by only 0.2 +/- 4.5 per cent and 2.5 +/- 7.6 per cent at blood sampling times of 10 minutes and 40 minutes, respectively. Blood cesium levels fell with a clearance half-time of 31.5 hours in 4 rabbits, and 2.4 days in 1 normal human. Fluorescent excitation analysis of cesium-labeled autologous red blood cells permits accurate determination of the red cell volume in man without associated patient radiation, thus making the procedure much more acceptable for children, pregnant women, normal volunteers, and for repeated studies in the same individual.
