title: Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy to monitor the effect of treatment in protein-losing gastroenteropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy is a noninvasive method for detecting protein-losing gastroenteropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven patients with protein-losing gastroenteropathy were evaluated with Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy. In addition, Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy was used to monitor the effect of treatment in five of these seven patients. The scintigraphic results were compared with serum albumin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All seven patients had positive results in the pretreatment images. Changes in scintigraphic findings in the five treated patients correlated well with changes in serum albumin level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tc-99m albumin scintigraphy is useful not only for diagnosing protein-losing gastroenteropathy but also for monitoring the effect of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin