title: Absorption of subcutaneous injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate via acupuncture points and non-acupuncture points.
abstract: SC-RNV, a new method of radionuclide venography by subcutaneous injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate at acupuncture points K-3 (Taixi), was developed in our laboratory. To further investigate whether K-3 is the best point for SC-RNV, Tc-99m pertechnetate was subcutaneously injected at K-3 on one foot and at one of the 11 other acupuncture points (APs) or 3 nonacupuncture points (NAPs) on the opposite foot, simultaneously, in 157 subjects without evidence of venous disorder. The absorption of radioisotopes from each injection site was evaluated by analyzing the time-activity curve at a region of interest set upon over the lower leg above the injection site. The results revealed that the absorption of radioisotopes via K-3 (Taixi) was better than that via NAPs, evidenced by higher peak activity and greater absorption rate. However, there was no significant difference between K-3 injection and other APs injections except Liv-2 and Liv-3. These results indicate that absorption of radioisotopes via APs is better than via NAPs. This together with the fact that K-3 is easier to detect than other APs in feet, suggests that K-3 is a good point for SC-RNV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tainan Municipal Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m