To differeniate upper from lower-tract urinary infections, 73 patients were imaged with 67Ga citrate. Renal uptake of the radioisotope occurred in pyelonephritis (documented in 47 patients by ureteral cathieterization, bladder washout, or histology) with an accuracy of 86%. There were 15% false-positives and 13% false-negatives. 67Ga may prove to be a clinically valuable test in the diagnosis of pyelonephritis. Results are promptly available 24 hours after injection, and it is non-invasive test that can safely be repeated to follow recurrent infections.
A b~t r a c t L~~X e gas is currently being used for a variety of lung scanning studies in the evaluation ofpatients with pulmonary disease. This radionuclide was selected for a number of reasons: (1) it does not react chemically with body tissues; (2) its physical half-life is such that useful quantities can be supplied from distant sources; (3) its biological half-life is in the order of minutes and the absorbed dose to the patient, even from millicurie amounts, is minimal; (4) only nominal shielding is required for the X and gamma emissions; and (5) commercial dose calibrators are available, which express activity directly in mCi or pCi.In the chain of transfers necessary from receipt of the radioactive gas to final disposal of waste, leakage must be continually guarded against. In our experience over several years, leakage, when it has occurred, has most often been caused by excessive strain on connecting lines.However, film badge exposures for personnel involved have been consistently minimal and no overexposures have occurred, although we have handled as much as 2 Ci per month. Accident pre-planning, including careful consideration of containment and dispensing apparatus, ventilation and exhaust requirements, and dry runs, have contributed to this record.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.