[Determination of glomerular filtration in children using 99mTc-DTPA and the sequential gammagraphy method]. / Urcovanie glomerulárnej filtrácie u detí 99mTc-DTPA metódou sekvencnej gamagrafie.

The method of sequence scintigraphy of the kidney with 99mTc-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentacetic acid) and subsequent determination of glomerular filtration rate by means of a gamma camera and computer were applied in examining 160 children with different diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. By modifying the commercial computer program a study with quantitative evaluation of some functional parameters was designed, involving also the determination of the overall and of separate values of GF 99mTc-DTPA according to G. Gates. The main advantages of the applied method are its noninvasiveness, speed, safety, low radiation load, and its relatively broad use in diagnostic nephrological practice particularly in children.

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.

The value of combination of bone scanning and measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen in diagnosis of breast cancer metastases.

The authors compared the results of bone scintigraphy and determination of CEA levels in a group consisting of 167 patients suffering from breast cancer with suspect distant metastases. The high agreement (79%) in results of both of examinations increase the diagnostic reliability of distant metastases. In the case of disagreement the bone scanning should be considered as a more sensitive method. The elevated CEA levels at negative or only uncertain bone scintigraphy results most often prove the present of distant metastases outside the skeleton.

Experiences with bone scanning in differential diagnosis of local bone lesions.

Because some primary tumours often metastasize to the skeleton, their early detection is essential for further therapy and prognosis. Radiographic examination is not sufficiently sensitive for early detection of bone metastases, because it can reveal the typical sign of metastases--decalcification--only after loss of 30-50% of the original amount of calcium from bone tissue (18). Bone scanning with bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals represents a viable technique for early detection of bone lesions, especially early metastatic disease. The indication for this examination is undoubtedly in breast cancer, cancer of prostate, lung, thyroid gland, hypernephroma, melanoma, plasmocytoma and malignant lymphomas. After good clinical experience of the authors with bone scanning in detection of secondary bone tumours in known primary localisations (9, 14, 15, 10), they tried to elaborate in this paper indicative criteria for bone scanning in patients with suspicious secondary tumourous lesions by unknown primary localisations.