Veterinary Nuclear Medicine. Scintigraphical Methods - review

Abstract

Balogh L., G. Andócs, J. Thuróczy, T. Németh, J. Láng, K. Bodó, G. A. Jánoki: Veterinary Nuclear Medicine. Scintigraphical examinations -a review. Acta Vet. Brno 68, 1999: 231-239. A review is presented of Veterinary Nuclear Medicine focusing on scintigraphical examinations. Most frequently applied clinical examination protocols are described, i.e. bone, thyroid, hepatic, renal, brain, cardiac and pulmonary scintigraphy, as well as oncological and inflammation scintigraphy, and miscellaneous scintigraphical examinations. Emphasis is placed on the types of procedures and the clinical information gained therefrom. No attempt is made to present or justify procedural details concerning instrumentation, radiopharmaceutical preparations, kinetic or radiation safety aspects. Detailed examinations are described following a schematic framework as: radiopharmaceuticals, examination protocol, indications and data evaluation, and illustrations. All the illustrations were taken between 1995 and 1999 from the data archive of the authors. Veterinary nuclear medicine, scintigraphy, companion animalsVeterinary Nuclear Medicine procedures can be subdivided into two main categories: isotope diagnostics (called also scintigraphy) and radiation (isotope) therapy (Hightower 1986), similar to the situation in human medicine. In the present paper the focus is on the first category.In isotope diagnostic procedures substances containing a radioactive label -the radiopharmaceutical are required. The label ideally is a gamma radiation-emitting isotope, has a short physical half-life, its chemical characteristics are suitable for stable labelling of different materials, and is economical as well. According to the above listed requirements the most frequently used isotope has recently been 99m Technetium ( 99m Tc) in both human and veterinary scintigraphical procedures. Radiopharmaceuticals are formulated in various physicochemical forms to deliver the radioactive atoms to particular parts of the living organism. Once localized, the gamma radiation emitted from the radiopharmaceutical will be available for external detection and measurement. Radiopharmaceuticals (there are more than 30 only in the Hungarian market) are applied parenterally or, less frequently, orally.The primary equipment used for detection is the gamma camera (scintillation camera, Anger camera) attached to or built in a personal computer. Whole body and SPECT (single photon emission computer tomography) procedures need the most developed instrumentation, the so called SPECT-camera, where the detector can be moved by the computer to allow imagine three-dimensional distribution of radiopharmaceutical and There are many types of nuclear medicine procedures also in the everyday clinical work. The purpose of the present paper is to present an overview of veterinary scintigraphy to specialists working in the field of nuclear medicine or biomedical research, and to provide information helpful to veterinarians referring animal patients to nuclear medicine laboratories....

Absorption, Uptake and Tissue Affinity of High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronan after Oral Administration in Rats and Dogs

“…In the pilot study, early, middle and late static pictures (whole body and zoomed pictures from different regions of the body) were taken 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after oral administration of 99m Tc-HA to assess its absorption, distribution and excretion in two Wistar rats and a Beagle dog with a Nucline x-ring gamma camera (8). In the controlled study, early, middle and late static pictures were taken 30 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after oral application of labeled compounds in four Wistar rats.…”

Avaliação cintilográfica de diferentes dosagens de Tecnécio-99m na padronização da perfusão pulmonar em cães da raça Rottweiller

“…A cintilografia aparece como uma técnica alternativa, sensível e minimamente invasiva (BALOGH et al, 1999). Em pequenos animais, o exame cintilográfico de perfusão pulmonar é mais comumente utilizado em pacientes com suspeita de tromboembolismo, ainda que também possa apresentar alterações nos casos de vasoconstrições pulmonares e destruições do leito capilar de outras etiologias (HARNAGEL et al, 1989).…”

An Update on Diagnostic Imaging Techniques in Veterinary Practice

“…The most frequently used isotope, 99m Technetium (99mTc), bears almost all the above mentioned characteristics (Balogh et al, 1999). Radiopharmaceutical agents are formulated in various physicochemical forms (radioisotope with the base material), to deliver the active atoms to the particular organ of tissue.…”