Ventilation imaging with Kr-81m

Sixty-five patients with suspected pulmonary embolism were studied prospectively with both Kr-81 m and Xe-133 ventilation imaging and Tc-99m MAA perfusion imaging. The krypton images, perfusion scintigrams and chest radiographs were read independently of the xenon images, perfusion scintigrams and chest radiographs by three observers. The studies of 53 patients were interpreted as normal or as indicative of a low or intermediate probability for pulmonary embolism with both gases. One study indicated intermediate probability with Xe-133 due to diffuse, severe xenon retention but low probability with Kr-81 m because of close ventilation-perfusion correspondence. The studies of 9 patients indicated a high probability of embolism with both gases, while those of two additional patients (one with emboli at angiography) indicated a high probability only with Kr-81m. While essential agreement between Xe-133 and Kr-81m ventilation imaging was found in most patients, the significant difference in interpretation in 2 of 11 patients with probable pulmonary embolism suggests that a controlled, prospective trial with pulmonary angiography is warranted before Kr-81m is employed for routine clinical use.     

Clinically suspected pulmonary embolism: utility of spiral CT

PURPOSE: To prospectively determine the utility of contrast material-enhanced spiral computed tomography (CT) in the examination of patients clinically suspected of having pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred ten patients clinically suspected of having PE were examined with contrast-enhanced spinal CT and at least one other imaging modality: ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, Doppler ultrasonography of deep leg veins, or pulmonary angiography. Chart review or telephone contact with the referring clinician was used to evaluate the contribution of spiral CT to the final clinical diagnosis. RESULTS: Spiral CT helped correctly identify 23 of 25 patients with PE (sensitivity, 92%). In 57 (67%) of the 85 patients without PE, spiral CT provided additional information that suggested or confirmed the alternate clinical diagnosis: pneumonia (n = 14), cardiovascular disease (n = 10), pulmonary fibrosis (n = 7), trauma (n = 6), malignancy (n = 5), pleural disease (n = 4), postoperative changes (n = 4), and other (n = 7). In the remaining 28 patients, spiral CT scans were normal (n = 12), failed to produce findings supportive of the final clinical diagnosis (n = 13), or were false-positive for PE (n = 3; specificity, 96%). CONCLUSION: Spiral CT has good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of PE. In the majority of patients who do not have PE, it also provides important ancillary information for the final diagnosis.     

Sensitivity of Kr-81m and Xe-127 in evaluating nonembolic pulmonary disease

The relative sensitivities of Kr-81m and Xe-127 in detecting lung ventilation defects was evaluated in 80 patients with nonembolic pulmonary diseases. Krypton-81m ventilation images (500,000 count) were interdigitated with Tc-99m MAA perfusion images; both were compared with Xe-127 images. The distributions of the two gases were also compared on the basis of point-by-point computer analyses. Xenon-127 was found to be more sensitive than Kr-81m in clinical evaluations of scintiphotos--although they were equivalent by computer analyses--in indicating regions of impaired ventilation in patients with obstructive airways disease.     

Comparison of technetium-99m aerosol and krypton-81m in ventilation studies for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

A new method of producing aerosols (technegas) in which 99Tcm is bound to carbon atoms (99Tcm-C) was evaluated by comparing 99Tcm-C images with those obtained with 81Krm in the same patients. Twenty-five patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) were studied. Immediately after the last 99Tcm-C view, the patients remained in supine position and inhaled 81Krm at tidal volume. Immediately after the 81Krm ventilation views were recorded, 4-7 mCi of MAA were injected IV. The same four views (ant, lop, rop, post) were recorded after inhalation of 99Tcm-C and 81Krm (200 kcounts) and 99Tcm MAA injection (400 kcounts). The mean penetration index of 99Tcm-C (0.91) was lower than that of 81Krm (1.04) (P less than 0.03). The apex to base lung distribution of 99Tcm-C and 81Krm appeared to be similar. The mean heterogeneity of 99Tcm distribution was 23, greater than that of 81Krm (14) (P = 10(-4)). The 99Tcm-C ventilation image quality was considered very good for 16 patients and good for 6 others. Significant foci of high bronchial uptake were infrequent. Interpretation of the examinations performed after inhalation of 99Tcm-C and 81Krm was concordant in all cases. No patient had an 81Krm/99Tcm MAA examination suggestive of PE when 99Tcm-C/99Tcm MAA indicated a low probability of PE, and vice versa. 99Tcm-C aerosols enable good quality ventilation images to be obtained in nearly all cases. Thus 99Tcm-C aerosols could be used in preference to 81Krm in ventilation studies for the diagnosis of PE.     

Technegas versus (81m)Kr ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy: a comparative study in patients with suspected acute pulmonary embolism.

81mKr is widely used as a ventilation agent to diagnose pulmonary embolism (PE). However, (81m)Kr is expensive, which limits its continuous availability. Technegas can be an alternative ventilation agent with the advantage of being less expensive and available daily. The aim of this study was to compare the value of technegas with that of (81m)Kr in the detection of PE. METHODS: Ninety-two consecutive patients (29 men; mean +/- SD, 53 +/- 17 y old) with at least one segmental perfusion defect (Hull criteria) were studied prospectively. Perfusion and ventilation (V/Q) lung scintigraphy with both technegas and (81m)Kr were performed within 24 h on all patients. V/Q lung scan results were classified as high probability for PE (normal ventilation study) or nondiagnostic (abnormal ventilation study). All V/Q lung scans were read by two experienced nuclear physicians in consensus. For the intra- and interobserver variabilities, two experienced observers independently read the V/Q lung scans. RESULTS: (81m)Kr and technegas showed a good agreement (kappa, 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.53-0.82). However, technegas significantly increased the number of nondiagnostic V/Q lung scans (P: = 0.035). In 15 patients, a discrepancy was found between (81m)Kr and technegas. False-positive V/Q lung scan results occurred in 4 of 12 patients (33%) with (81m)Kr and in 2 of 3 patients (66%) with technegas. The intra- and interobserver variabilities were 0.71-0.88 (95% CI, 0.56-1.0) for perfusion/(81m)Kr and 0.74-0.96 (95% CI, 0.58-1.0) for perfusion/technegas. CONCLUSION: In comparison with (81m)Kr, technegas does not result in more false-positive V/Q lung scan results. The use of technegas, however, increases the number of nondiagnostic V/Q lung scan results, which would increase the demand for further additional testing to confirm or refute PE.     

Kr-81m calibration factor for the npl ionisation chamber.

A general method has been developed for the measurement of the activity concentration of 81mKr gas. Due to its short half-life, 13.1s, this gas has to be eluted from a 81Rb/81mKr generator. The 81Rb parent has a half-life of about 4.6 h. The calibration was done in two steps: firstly, a gamma-ray spectrometer was calibrated using 51Cr and 139Ce sources, nuclides with gamma-ray energies bracketing that of 81mKr (190.5 keV). The measurement geometry was equivalent to that of the 81mKr measurement; the sources were inserted into two collimated PTFE tubes in front of the gamma-ray detector. Secondly, a calibration factor for the NPL radionuclide calibrator was determined with a specially designed ionisation chamber insert. The 81mKr gas passed in front of the gamma-ray detector in PTFE tubing before and after entering the ionisation chamber. The calibration factor for 81mKr in the radionuclide calibrator with this geometry was independent of the gas flow rate within determined limits. The analytical calculations of the activity determination, uncertainties and measurement criteria are discussed.     

99mTc particle perfusion/99mTc aerosol ventilation imaging using a subtraction technique in suspected pulmonary embolism

It is generally acknowledged that ventilation-perfusion mismatch is diagnostic of pulmonary embolism. Lung ventilation imaging with radioactive gases is a good method for the detection of pulmonary embolism, but it is not in widespread use because of the limited availability of 81mKr gas and the poor physical properties of 133Xe. Aerosols have been proposed, instead of gases for use in lung ventilation imaging. As perfusion and ventilation distributions may change very rapidly, the two imaging procedures should be done in rapid succession. The cheapest way to perform the combined perfusion-ventilation (Q/V) imaging is to use 99mTc-labelled macroaggregates and aerosols. In our method the perfusion imaging was done first, immediately followed by the ventilation imaging with 99mTc-labelled aerosols. A computer program was used to subtract the contribution of the perfusion from the combined Q/V image so that the pure ventilation image alone was obtained. The method was tested in 41 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.     

An evaluation of Technegas as a ventilation agent compared with krypton-81 m in the scintigraphic diagnosis of pulmonary embolism

A ventilation agent that provides good quality lung images, which is cheap, easy to use and non-toxic, with a low radiation dose, has long been sought. Technegas, an ultrafine aerosol of technetium-99m-labelled carbon, was developed with these qualities in mind. We have studied Technegas in a clinical setting to evaluate some of these qualities. Twenty-five patients referred with a diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism were investigated during the same study using both krypton-81m and Technegas as ventilation agents in conjunction with^99mTc-macroaggregated albumin as a perfusion agent. Technegas provided images which were of satisfactory quality. Images were obtained relatively easily and without discomfort to the patient, and Technegas has the advantage of always being available. A semi-quantitative regional assessment was employed which showed a good correlation (r = 0.499, P <0.001) between Technegas and krypton-81 m ventilation. We report on an effect not previously found to be significant, that is lung regions were better ventilated with Technegas than with krypton-81 m. This altered the diagnostic probability rating of pulmonary embolism in a number of patients (n = 3, 12%) compared with krypton-81 m. This effect was also noted in a further 8 patients (32%) without a change in the diagnostic probability. We offer possible explanations for this phenomenon. Offprint requests to: S.E.M. Clarke     

Krypton-81m ventilation scintigraphy for the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli

The value of ventilation studies in conjunction with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphies for the diagnosis of pulmonary emboli is reviewed. A retrospective study of 273 consecutive cases and comparison with 42 angiographic results provides the data base. The data are compared with previously reported results and confirm the diagnostic gain obtained by ventilation studies. Possible advantages of the use of krypton-81m for the ventilation study are suggested. Finally, with the observed prevalence of six possible scintigraphic outcomes and assuming that two outcomes are diagnostic, it can be shown that the addition of a ventilation study in the diagnostic work-up decreases the average cost of the diagnosis.     

Clinical evaluation of Kr-81m inhalation study through a dead space

A new inhalation technique of 81mKr gas was applied to evaluate the pathophysiological abnormality of ventilation. 81mKr gas (370 MBq) was continuously supplied into a mouth piece directly (without dead space), VE, or through a dead space of 500 ml, VL, in 110 subjects with various lung diseases. Subjects were divided in four groups by a combination of distribution patterns of 81mKr gas obtained by these two inhalation techniques. Group 1: No ventilatory defect in both techniques. Group 2: Defects larger in VE than VL. Group 3: Defects larger in VL than VE. Group 4: No remarkable difference in defects in both techniques. Cases of group 1 were normal in pulmonary function test and chest X-ray. Finding of group 2 reflects early airway closure. This group consisted of cases in remission of bronchial asthma, small air way disease and pulmonary congestion. In group 3, restrictive disease and obstructive disease, especially emphysema, were included. Patients with severe obstructive disease and organized change of pulmonary parenchyma were belonged in group 4. In ventilation study with 81mKr gas, a combined study of inhalation technique through a dead space and by direct infusion may be useful to evaluate a pathophysiological change of various pulmonary diseases.     

An evaluation of Technegas as a ventilation agent compared with krypton-81 m in the scintigraphic diagnosis of pulmonary embolism.

A ventilation agent that provides good quality lung images, which is cheap, easy to use and non-toxic, with a low radiation dose, has long been sought. Technegas, an ultrafine aerosol of technetium-99m-labelled carbon, was developed with these qualities in mind. We have studied Technegas in a clinical setting to evaluate some of these qualities. Twenty-five patients referred with a diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism were investigated during the same study using both krypton-81 m and Technegas as ventilation agents in conjunction with 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin as a perfusion agent. Technegas provided images which were of satisfactory quality. Images were obtained relatively easily and without discomfort to the patient, and Technegas has the advantage of always being available. A semi-quantitative regional assessment was employed which showed a good correlation (r = 0.499, P less than 0.001) between Technegas and krypton-81 m ventilation. We report on an effect not previously found to be significant, that is lung regions were better ventilated with Technegas than with krypton-81 m. This altered the diagnostic probability rating of pulmonary embolism in a number of patients (n = 3, 12%) compared with krypton-81 m. This effect was also noted in a further 8 patients (32%) without a change in the diagnostic probability. We offer possible explanations for this phenomenon.     

Spiral computed tomographic pulmonary angiography for investigating suspected pulmonary embolism: clinical outcomes.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical outcomes of patients who were suspected of having acute pulmonary embolism and underwent spiral computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) for diagnosis. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical outcomes of 62 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism; 82 CTPA scans were performed in a 15-month period. Clinical outcomes were recorded for all patients for a minimum of 3 months. RESULTS: Acute pulmonary embolism was diagnosed and treated in 11 (18%) of the 62 patients evaluated via CTPA. Scans of the other 51 (82%) patients were negative for pulmonary embolism. Seven (14%) of these patients died during the 3-month follow-up period; pulmonary embolism was considered to be a contributing factor in 1 of these deaths. Seven (14%) of the 51 patients were lost to follow-up, and 37 (74%) showed no evidence of disease at least 3 months after a negative CTPA study. Despite the presence or absence of an acute pulmonary embolism, an alternate or additional diagnosis was made on 32 (52%) CTPA scans. CONCLUSION: Spiral CTPA can be effectively used to rule out clinically significant pulmonary emboli and also serves to provide alternate diagnoses in patients who do not have a pulmonary embolism.     

肺通气/灌注显像诊断不典型亚肺段肺栓塞

目的评价核索肺通气／灌注（V／Q）显像对不典型亚肺段肺栓塞（PE）的诊断价值。方法患者141例，男58例，女83例，年龄（65．67±11．29）岁，其中下肢静脉病变史者14例，糖尿病、高脂血症史者45例，63例近期内行有创性诊断和治疗，另19例均无上述病史或诊疗史。所有患者行常规盼^99Tc^m-MAA和^99Tc^m气体显像后进行1—24个月的抗凝治疗，于治疗后再行肺灌注显像。将抗凝治疗前后肺灌注显像进行对比分析，根据肺内放射性分布的变化判断治疗效果，再结合临床资料及其他影像检查综合判断不典型PE的诊断。结果141例患者肺灌注显像均显示某个肺野内不呈肺段或亚肺段分布的片状或小斑片状放射性分布稀疏区。肺通气显像示肺野内放射性分布基本均匀，未见放射性分布稀疏区。治疗后118例肺灌注显像显示双肺内放射性分布不同程度的增多或均匀。按肺野内放射性分布改善情况标准评价：抗凝治疗后恢复正常35例，显效49例，有效34例。总有效率为83．69％（118／141）。另23例肺内放射性分布无明显变化，视为无效。结论V／Q显像是诊断不典型亚肺段PE的首选方法。     

Can dynamic krypton-81m imaging separate regional ventilation and volume?

This study explores the assumption that 81mKr static images represent regional ventilation. Dynamic acquisition of 81mKr ventilation images permits creation of time-activity curves and the possible separation of the confounding influences of ventilation and volume. By using a two-compartment gas mixing lung phantom, the results demonstrate that both total and tidal 81mKr are closely related to regional ventilation. In 61 children and 15 adult volunteers, there was good agreement between fractional ventilation assessed by total and tidal 81mKr. The dynamic steady-state ventilation image can be analyzed to separate tidally exchanged and resident 81mKr. This may allow regional ventilation to be distinguished from regional volume.     

Unusual pulmonary angiographic findings in suspected pulmonary embolism

Pulmonary arteriography is most commonly performed to diagnose pulmonary embolism. A variety of clinical entities, however, may mimic pulmonary embolism both clinically and scintigraphically. Five patients with abnormal pulmonary arteriograms resulting from diseases other than pulmonary embolism are presented. The clinical, radiographic, and pathologic findings and long-term follow-up in these patients are described. Awareness of the angiographic patterns seen in these unusual cases is important in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.     

Kr-81m for determination of right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF)

A 10–12 mCi ⁸¹Rb^81mKr generator was connected to a specially designed short-period infusion set, to produce an equilibrium activity distribution in the right heart. This procedure was tested in 25 individuals to calculate the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). On average 30 heart cycles were analyzed per study. No background activity from the left heart was visualized because of the radionuclide exhalation. The background from the lungs could be neglected, which is partially due to the ultrashort half-life of the nuclide (t _1/2=13s). Thus, an easy automatic procedure can be applied to delineate the ventricle and to calculate the RVEF. The data showed excellent reproducibility, when investigations were repeated. The method would benefit from use of higher activity generators.