title: Are oral cathartics of value in optimizing the gallium scan? Concise communication.
abstract: The normal intestinal secretion of 9-15% of an administered dose of gallium-67 may prevent early detection of intra-abdominal disease. We randomized 50 patients to receive either no bowel preparation or 30 cc of milk of magnesia plus 5 cc of cascara. No significant difference was found between the two groups in frequency with which gallium interfered with readings or time to complete the study.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002400:Cathartics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007422:Intestines / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D002400:Cathartics; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide