title: Technetium-99m-HMPAO cerebral perfusion scintigraphy: considerations for timely brain death declaration.
abstract: The lipophilic cerebral perfusion agent 99mTc-hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (HMPAO) is increasingly used to demonstrate the absence of blood flow for the declaration of brain death. We report a case that illustrates how the timing of such studies is important when organ harvesting is the underlying emergent indication. If performed too early, a study showing the presence of cerebral perfusion may not expedite the declaration of brain death, but instead may complicate patient assessment and unnecessarily delay the process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Larar
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Nagel
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D013997:Time Factors; D014019:Tissue Donors
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime