Scintigraphic detection of pulmonary emboli by serial positron imaging of inhaled 150-labeled carbon dioxide

Journal Article · Thu Aug 10 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · New Engl. J. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197808102990604· OSTI ID:5612691

Nichols, A B; Cochavi, S; Hales, C A; Strauss, H W; McKusick, K A; Waltman, A C; Beller, G A

Inhaled radioactive carbon dioxide is retained in pulmonary blood distal to embolic obstruction and appears as an area of increased radioactivity that delineates the site and magnitude of the affected zone. The scintigraphic detection of pulmonary emboli by serial imaging of inhaled carbon dioxide labeled with cyclotron-produced 1502 was evaluated in 27 patients undergoing conventional pulmonary ventilation/perfusion imaging and pulmonary arteriography. Fifteen patients proved to have pulmonary emboli on arteriography. Sensitivity (87%) and specificity (92%) rates for inhalation imaging were superior to those of conventional ventilation/perfusion imaging (P less than 0.05). Clearance of 1502 activity was markedly delayed over embolized pulmonary segments (mean half time of 47.0 +- 11.1 seconds (S.E.M.)) in comparison to normal segments (mean of 3.6 +- 0.08 seconds; P less than 0.001). Pulmonary imaging by this method provides an approach to the detection of pulmonary emboli that is relatively sensitive and specific and permits analysis of persisting perfusion in embolized pulmonary segments. A major practical limitation, however, is the necessity of a nearby cyclotron.

• Research Organization: Columbia University Coll. of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
• OSTI ID: 5612691
• Journal Information: New Engl. J. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: New Engl. J. Med.; (United States) Vol. 299:6; ISSN NEJMA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ACCELERATORS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL LOCALIZATION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
CYCLOTRONS
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DRUGS
EMBOLI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
OXIDES
OXYGEN 15
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOPHARMACEUTICALS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
SENSITIVITY
SPECIFICITY
SYNTHESIS