title: 99Tcm (v) DMSA: the pituitary sign.
abstract: Technetium-99m (99Tcm) (v) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is a new tumour imaging agent which has been used to evaluate head and neck tumours. It has a normal head and neck biodistribution to include the lacrimal glands, nasal mucosa and the blood-pool. Seventy-seven patients were studied of whom 63 had a head and neck malignancy. Of these patients, 19 (25%) exhibited positive accumulation of radioactivity in the region of the pituitary gland and this was a constant finding in those followed-up after treatment. Biodistribution studies in forty New Zealand white rabbits confirmed pituitary accumulation of 99Tcm (v) DMSA. The pituitary gland region should be included in the normal biodistribution of 99Tcm (v) DMSA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Watkinson
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Lazarus
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Maisey
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Clarke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D004113:Succimer / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D004113:Succimer