Scintigraphic detection of pulmonary emboli by serial positron imaging of inhaled /sup 15/O-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:6688459

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 /sup 15/O/sub 2/ 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 percent) and specificity (92 percent) rates for inhalation imaging were superior to those of concentional ventilation/perfusion imaging (P < 0.05). Clearance of /sup 15/O/sub 2/ activity was markedly delayed over embolized pulmonary seqments (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 < 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: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• OSTI ID: 6688459
• 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
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-PLUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BLOOD FLOW
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHALCOGENIDES
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
EMBOLI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INHALATION
INTAKE
ISOTOPES
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIGHT NUCLEI
LUNGS
MINUTES LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
NUCLEI
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN 15
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN ISOTOPES
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING