^99mTc Technetium Sulfide and the Scintillation Camera in the Rapid Diagnosis of Pericardial Effusion

Summary

Because of its speed, accuracy, and reproducibility, radioisotopic angiocardiography appears to be the method of choice for the diagnosis of pericardial effusion. Technetium-99m sulfide is preferable to ^99mTc sodium pertechnetate in these studies for the following reasons: (1) its specific uptake by the liver aids both in patient positioning and in the accuracy of diagnosis; and (2), studies can be repeated within 15—20 minutes should there be equiment or technical error.

Durch ihre Schnelligkeit, Genauigkeit und Reproduzierbarkeit erweist sich die Angiokardiographie mit Radioisotopen als die Methode der Wahl zur Diagnose des Perikardergusses. ^99mTc-sulfid ist dem ^99mTc-pertechnetat vorzuziehen da 1. seine spezifische Speicherung in der Leber bei der Einstellung des Patienten von Nutzen ist und die Genauigkeit der Diagnose erhöht, und 2. die Untersuchungen innerhalb 15—20 Minuten wiederholt werden können, falls dies aus technischen Gründen notwendig sein sollte.

A cause de sa rapidité de son exactitude et de sa reproducibilité l’angiocardiographie radioisotopique apparaît comme la méthode de choix pour le diagnostique des épanchements péricardiques. Le sulfide de Technetium est préférable dans ces études au pertechnétate sodique de Technetium pour les raisons suivantes: (1) Sa fixation spécifique par le foie aide dans le positionnement du malade et dans l’exactitude du diagnostique. (2) Les études peuvent être répétées dans les quinze à vingt minutes dans les cas d’un défaut technique ou de l’appareillage.

^* Edward R. Weiss, M.D., Assistant Chief, Nuclear Medicine Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, and Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif. 90073.

^** William H. Blahd, M.D., Chief, Nuclear Medicine Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, and Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.

^*** Martin A. Winston, M.D., Staff Physician, Nuclear Medicine Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, Calif.

^**** G. T. Krishnamurthy, M.D., Resident Physician, Nuclear Medicine Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, Calif.

^***** p anc hita B. Thomas, A.B., Nuclear Medicine Service, Wadsworth General Hospital, Veterans Administration, Los Angeles, Calif. Correspondence: Edward R. Weiss, M.D.

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