The diagnosis of brain death with Tc-99m HMPAO.
Evaluation of blood flow to the brain using various radiopharmaceuticals can be used to confirm brain death. Agents available for this purpose include Tc-99m HMPAO, Tc-99m pertechnetate, Tc-99m glucoheptonate, and Tc-99m DTPA. The authors evaluated the use of Tc-99m HMPAO in 17 patients suspected of brain death using flow images and static images at several time intervals: immediately, between 30 and 60 minutes, and at 2 hours. These studies were compared to several studies performed with Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Tc-99m DTPA. The results of the Tc-99m HMPAO brain death studies correlated well with the patients' clinical conditions. Static images 1 to 2 hours after the injection of 5 to 30 mCi of Tc-99m HMPAO were satisfactory for an accurate interpretation; however, an immediate answer could as easily be supplied using flow images alone. Tc-99m HMPAO was found to be more easily interpreted and less dependent on imaging technique than Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Tc-99m DTPA, and it is the agent of choice for the evaluation of brain death.
Department of Radiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001926:Brain Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013400:Sugar Acids; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate
D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010091:Oximes; D013400:Sugar Acids; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; C100014:technetium Tc 99m gluceptate; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate