Dynamic 99mTc-DTPA renal gammagraphy with glomerular filtration rate determination.

Using the method of 99mTc-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), sequential renal gammagraphy with subsequent glomerular filtration rate determination by means of a gamma-camera and computer, a total of 285 patients with suspected renal and urinary tract diseases, subjects after surgery on these organs or those serving as controls after drug therapy were examined. With the help of a modified computer user's program, a study was designed to perform quantitative evaluation of some functional parameters as well as determination of total and separate glomerular filtration rate values by 99mTc-DTPA according to Gates. The benefits of the method employed in our study are that it is non-invasive, rapid, atraumatic, with low exposure to radiation while offering a broad range of applications in routine diagnostic practice of nephrology, and especially so in paediatric patients.

The status of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnosis of bone metastases in breast cancer.

In this article, the authors present their experience with the diagnosis of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer using bone scintigraphy with 99mTc phosphonate and radioimmunological determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptic antigen (TPA). In a group of 395 patients, there was agreement between tumour markers (CEA, TPA) and the results of bone scintigraphy in 331 cases (84%)--negative in 193 cases (49%) and positive (i.e. in terms of bone scintigraphy results and the presence of at least one tumour marker) in 138 cases (35%). On the basis of this good agreement of the results between bone scintigraphy and CEA and TPA levels, the authors recommend the following algorithm in monitoring patients with breast cancer: follow-up of tumour markers at several-month intervals and, any increase in their levels will refer the patient to further examination using imaging techniques including bone scintigraphy.

Value correlation of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin with the results of lymphadenectomy in non-seminomatous testicular tumours.

In a group of 131 patients with nonseminomatous testicular tumours, the authors correlated the postorchiectomic levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin with the results of lymphadenectomy. They found 90.5% correlation of negative and 74% of positive levels of tumour markers with results of lymphadenectomy. In spite of 9.5% false positive and 25.7% false negative results the authors concluded that determination of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin is an important contribution to the detection of residual nonseminomatous tumour tissues after orchiectomy.

Significance of carcinoembryonic and tissue polypeptide antigen determination in the diagnosis of metastases in breast cancer.

A radioimmunological assay of CEA and TPA levels in breast cancer patients revealed a 93.7% concordance of negative and 93.4% of positive values with the clinical activity of the disease. In 26 out of a group of 38 patients (68.4%) with progressive breast carcinoma, an enhanced CEA and TPA level was the first indicator of the presence of metastases. In view of the results obtained, the authors consider this procedure to be a suitable method for monitoring and early detection of metastases in patients with breast cancer.