Clinical evaluation of Tc-99m cystine. A new renal radiopharmaceutical

Tc-99m cystine has been proved to be a good renal agent in animals. Its clinical evaluation has not been reported. In this study, Tc-99m cystine is used for evaluation of renal function in normal subjects and patients with chronic renal failure as well as in renal transplant patients. The results are compared with similar studies using Tc-99m DTPA and Tc-99m GHA. The clearance values also are compared with I-131 OIH. The results show that Tc-99m cystine has good radiopharmaceutical characteristics suitable for evaluation of both renal function as well as morphology.

Interventional radiology in the management of superior thyroid artery injury which presents as a diagnostic dilemma

Following a forgotten iron splinter injury, a 19 year old male developed a slowly increasing extrathyroidal haematoma, which presented as a diagnostic dilemma. Surgical exploration failed to establish a diagnosis and was complicated by severe haemorrhage. Emergency angiography demonstrated injury to the superior thyroid artery. Therapeutic embolization and surgical exploration resulted in functional and anatomical recovery of the thyroid lobe.

99mTc-insulin: labeling, biodistribution and scintiimaging in animals

Porcine insulin was labeled with 99mTc by direct tin reduction. More than 95% labeling efficiency was obtained on paper chromatography in saline and methyl ethyl ketone. The stability of the labeled compound was confirmed by paper chromatography at 3 h post-labeling and by human serum albumin (HSA) challenge. PAGE pattern indicated no change in the electrophoretic behavior and the molecular size of insulin after the labeling procedure. Biodistribution in rats shows that kidney took up the maximum amount of 99mTc-insulin; maxima being maintained throughout 24 h post-injection. Liver and intestine were the other organs with significant uptake; the rest localizing little or negligible radioactivity. Most of the radioactivity was excreted via the renal pathway into urine. Scintiimages conformed to the biodistribution data. The results of this study present the potential of 99mTc-labeling of insulin by a simple method.

Skeletal scintigraphic findings in endemic skeletal fluorosis

Endemic skeletal fluorosis is characterized by bone, joint and muscle pain, progressive ankylosis of various joints and crippling deformities. Whole body skeletal scintigraphy with 99Tcm-methylene diphosphonate was performed for 17 symptomatic subjects suffering from this disorder. The fluoride content of drinking water ranged from 4.1 to 12.9 mg l-1 (normal < 1 mg l-1). Urinary and serum fluoride levels were markedly elevated. Serum calcium (total and ionized), inorganic phosphorus, creatinine and albumin were essentially normal while serum alkaline phosphatase was elevated in six subjects (mean +/- S.D. 206 +/- 106; range 22-1072 IU l-1). Skeletal radiology revealed a wide spectrum of bony abnormalities. Skeletal scintigraphy revealed a picture similar to metabolic 'superscan' in all subjects, i.e. increased tracer uptake in axial and appendicular skeleton, reduced soft tissue uptake, poor or absent renal images, prominent costochondral junction and 'tie' sign in sternum. Increased uptake was present in all subjects irrespective of age, water fluoride content, serum alkaline phosphatase level and radiological abnormalities. Our findings suggest the presence of a high bone turnover state in endemic skeletal fluorosis irrespective of other variables.

Intestinal lymphangiectasia: evaluation by CT and scintigraphy

Intestinal lymphangiectasia caused severe diarrhea and generalized edema in a 40-year-old man. The diagnosis was established by clinical, laboratory, and duodenal biopsy findings. The abnormalities detected on computed tomography (CT) and scintigraphy using 99mTc human serum albumin are herein described and pertinent literature is briefly reviewed.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder

Magnetic resonance imaging is an effective means for evaluating the painful shoulder. It has been shown to display accurately pathology associated with impingement syndrome and is useful in the detection of tears of the glenoid labrum. The role of magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of synovial pathology has not yet been defined. Additional work is needed in this area.