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Title: Tc-99m-DTPA aerosol and radioactive gases compared as adjuncts to perfusion scintigraphy in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism

Journal Article · · Radiology; (United States)

To evaluate the clinical utility of improved methods for radioaerosol inhalation imaging, we obtained preperfusion radioaerosol images in 107 patients (mean age = 62 years), who were referred for evaluation of suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). For each patient, we compared six-view aerosol images with accompanying perfusion scans and chest radiographs and with Xenon-133 (Xe-133) or Krypton-81 m (Kr-81m) studies. Four observers at four different institutions independently evaluated aerosol-perfusion and gas-perfusion pairs, classifying the probability of PE as low, high, or indeterminate. The results suggest that radioaerosol inhalation studies, performed with improved nebulizers, are diagnostically equivalent to ventilation imaging as an adjunct to perfusion scintigraphy in evaluating patients with suspected PE.

Research Organization:
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY
OSTI ID:
6349731
Journal Information:
Radiology; (United States), Vol. 153:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English