title: Efficient lung scintigraphy.
abstract: Lung scintigraphy is a first-choice method to diagnose lung embolism. The clinical routine in most centres is a perfusion study complemented with a ventilation study when judged necessary. We describe a routine with ventilation scintigraphy preceding perfusion scintigraphy, which is completed within one hour. Furthermore, the data acquired allow the determination of lung clearance of the tracer 99mTc-DTPA (diethylene triamine penta-acetate) used for the ventilation scintigraphy. An aerosol generator charged once a day with 99mTc-DTPA solution is used for all inhalations during the day. Inhalation is monitored with a counter and interrupted when the count rate corresponds to about 20 MBq. The ventilation imaging starts and ends with posterior projections. This allows calculation of lung clearance of 99mTc-DTPA. Perfusion scintigraphy is performed in a standard fashion with 100 MBq of 99mTc-MAA (macro-aggregated albumin). The ventilation study was considered to give some diagnostic information in the majority of the patients. The clearance determination allows detection of inflammatory lung disease. The background activity caused by the ventilation study comprised only 13% of the activity in the perfusion scintigraphy and did not significantly interfere with interpretation of the perfusion scan. The cost for the investigation is low because of the rational system for aerosol administration and the short time for a complete study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tägil
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evander
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wollmer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jonson
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000502:physiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate; D014692:Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate