No abstract

Tc-99m-MAA hepatic arterial perfusion scintigraphy ( HAPS ) using a totally implanted drug delivery system was employed for hepatic arterial chemotherapy in 147 patients (335 studies). Complete perfusion of the involved liver was seen in 88% of patients initially [more so in those with normal hepatic vascular anatomy (93%) than those with vascular variants (79%)] and remained good on follow-up. In 67 consecutive patients (95 studies), arteriovenous shunting to the lung ranged from 0.4 to 32% (mean, 6.2% +/- 4.1 S.D.). Uptake at the tip of the catheter was increased in 20% of patients, but good perfusion was usually maintained. A significant decrease in hepatic and/or extrahepatic perfusion associated with a "hot spot" at the tip of the catheter indicated hepatic arterial thrombosis. Extrahepatic perfusion was seen in 14% of cases, usually in the distribution of the stomach, small bowel, and spleen. Significant symptoms of drug toxicity were seen in 70% of patients with extrahepatic perfusion, compared to 19% of those without it.

No abstract

Academic radiology departments have proved that they can "do more with less" over a sustained period.

The authors describe a safe, simple, sensitive, and accurate technique of measuring moderate amounts of blood loss using erythrocytes labeled with indium-111. Donor red cells were labeled with indium-111 and tracer amounts infused into dogs. The magnitude of red cell loss was determined by the difference between two sequential volume measurements. The coefficient of variation of sequential measurements of the same red cell volume was 4.6 +/- 1%. The sensitivity of the technique, as determined by comparison of measured and estimated volumes, was 20.5 ml. The measured volume was related linearly to the calculated volume of red cells lost (r = 0.98). The authors recommend indium-111-labeled erythrocytes as a means of obtaining multiple measurements of small to moderate amounts of hemorrhage.