Radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) with an yttrium-90 colloid offers a local and minimally invasive therapy for treating inflammatory hypertrophy of the synovial membrane of the knee that has arisen from numerous kinds of disorder: these include rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), spondyloarthropathy, villonodular synovitis and others. There is substantial evidence that this treatment is efficacious and that, in view of the benefits that it offers, its tolerability and safety are very good. Administration should be restricted to patients in whom other therapies (including locally injected corticoids) have failed, and proper attention must be paid to correct administration, including post-treatment immobilization and the co-administration of corticoids, to minimize the risk of leakage and of efflux through the puncture channel.

Lung perfusion scintigraphy (LPS) with technetium-99m-labeled macro-aggregates of albumin (Tc-99m-MAA) is well established in the diagnostic of pulmonary embolism (PE). In the last decade, it was shown that single-photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) acquisition of LPS overcame static scintigraphy. Furthermore, there are rare indications for LPS, such as preoperative quantification of regional lung function prior to lung resection or transplantation, optimization of lung cancer radiation therapy, quantification of right-left shunt, planning of intra-arterial chemotherapy, and several rare indications in pediatrics. Moreover, LPS with Tc-99m-MAA is a safe method with low radiation exposure. PE can also be diagnosed by spiral computer tomography (CT), ultrasound, magnetic resonance angiography, or pulmonary angiography (PA, former gold standard). The present review considers all these methods, especially spiral CT, and compares them with LPS with respect to sensitivity and specificity and gives an overview of established and newer publications. It shows that LPS with Tc-99m-MAA represents a diagnostic method of continuing value for PE. In comparison with spiral CT and/or PA, LPS is not to be defeated as mentioned also by the most actual Prospective Investigation of Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis (PIOPED) II reports. This applies in particular to chronic or recurring embolisms, whereas currently spiral CT may be of greater value for major or life-threatening embolisms. At present, LPS cannot be replaced by other methods in some applications, such as pediatrics or in the quantification of regional pulmonary function in a preoperative context or prior to radiation therapy. LPS still has a place in the diagnostics of PE and is irreplaceable in several rare indications as described earlier.

Hypertrophy and inflammation of the synovium with various underlying pathologies - such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, haemophilia and spondyloarthropathy - can be treated successfully by radiosynoviorthesis (RSO). For medium-sized joints (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip and ankle), the radionuclide of choice is rhenium-186. We review the evidence for the efficacy of this local, relatively non-invasive therapy and evaluate its benefits and risks. We conclude good evidence of rhenium-186 RSO in rheumatoid arthritis and haemophilic arthropathy. In the remaining pathologies, up to now, the therapeutic efficacy has not been confirmed by today's most stringent criteria for clinical studies. The available data support rhenium-186 RSO as a suitable second-line treatment for patients in whom other therapies (including locally injected corticoids) have failed, as long as proper attention is paid to correct administration - including post-treatment immobilization and the co-administration of corticoids.

Treatment of colorectal liver metastases or HCC using high activities of (188)Re-microspheres was well tolerated and a PR was seen in 2 of 10 patients. The treatment represents a therapeutic option in these patients.