The Employment of 197Hg EDTA in Kidney Scanning

Abstract

SummaryThe authors investigated the use of 197Hg EDTA complex for kidney scanning. They describe the physical, biological and toxicological properties of the compound; its distribution within the organism, its excretion with urine and faeces and its uptake by the kidneys. The authors have established that the renal cortex selectively secretes the material which makes it suitable for kidney scanning. Some scintigrams of both normal and pathologic kidneys are presented.Finally a detailed discussion of the dosimetry is included. The radiation doses due to 197Hg EDTA are compared with those due to 203Hg-neohydrin and to intravenous pyelography. This comparison shows clearly that the use of 197Hg EDTA considerably decreases the radiation dose to the patient.