technetium-tc-99m-gluceptate and Intracranial-Arteriovenous-Malformations

Over the past decade, many of the prime indications for radionuclide brain scanning have become instead indications for CCT, and nuclear medicine studies of the brain have assumed more of a complementary, supportive role. However, there is great promise for improvement in central nervous system radionuclide applications with advances anticipated in both radiopharmaceuticals and instrumentation. Nuclear medicine is continuing to function as a powerful research tool and, in the relatively near future, may regain its role as a major clinical test of the central nervous system.

Topics: Brain Abscess; Brain Death; Brain Diseases; Brain Injuries; Brain Neoplasms; Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Hydrocephalus; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations; Meningitis; Organotechnetium Compounds; Pentetic Acid; Radionuclide Imaging; Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial; Spinal Cord Diseases; Sugar Acids; Technetium; Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate

Sixteen patients with known cerebral disease had one- and two-hour delayed brain scans following intravenous injection of 15 mCi of technetium-99m glucoheptonate. No abnormalities were seen on the two-hour images that were not detected on the one-hour delayed scan. There were two false negative scans. Of the 14 true positives, 10 were visualized equally well in the one-and two-hour delayed images, two were better seen on two-hour images, and two were better on one-hour scans. As no difference in lesion detection was found, consideration of reducing the post-dose delay time two hours to one seems warranted.

Topics: Brain; Brain Diseases; Brain Neoplasms; Evaluation Studies as Topic; False Negative Reactions; Humans; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations; Organotechnetium Compounds; Radionuclide Imaging; Sugar Acids; Technetium; Time Factors