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Biomedical subjects

R Taillefer

Publications and source records attributed to R Taillefer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Radionuclide esophageal transit study in detection of esophageal motor dysfunction: comparison with motility studies (manometry)

Radionuclide esophageal transit study (RETS) has been developed to assess motor function of the esophagus. The purpose of this study was to compare RETS to esophageal motility studies (EMS) in detection of motility disorders. A total of 109 consecutive patients without previous history of surgery on the esophagus underwent both RETS and EMS within one month of each other. Final diagnosis was divided into three categories: I--primary esophageal motor disorders (n = 39); II--reflux disease (n = 48); and III--non-cardiac chest pain and/or dysphagia (n = 22). Using EMS as the standard, the results of RETS were as follows: sensitivity for detection of motor dysfunction was 97%, 92%, and 77% for Groups I, II, and III, respectively, while specificity was 91% for Group II and 100% for Group III. Global sensitivity was 92% and specificity was 88%. No clinically significant motor disorders were missed by RETS. In conclusion, RETS is a useful noninvasive test for the screening of patients with symptoms thought to be of esophageal origin.

Adult↗

Same day injections of Tc-99m methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (hexamibi) for myocardial tomographic imaging: comparison between rest-stress and stress-rest injection sequences.

It has been shown that both rest and stress 99mTc-hexamibi myocardial perfusion imaging can be performed on the same day using two different doses injected within few hours (the first one at rest followed by a second at stress). In order to evaluate and compare 2 sequences (rest-stress and stress-rest) of 99mTc-hexamibi injections performed the same day, 18 patients with either abnormal 201Tl myocardial scan or abnormal coronary angiography were studied with 2 99mTc-hexamibi injections protocols. The rest-stress study was performed as follows: 7 mCi 99mTc-hexamibi was injected at rest. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed 60 min later. Immediately after the rest study, patients were injected at peak stress with 25 mCi 99mTc-hexamibi. Tomographic imaging was repeated 1 h later. Patients were submitted to the stress-rest protocol within 3 days. Tomographic imaging was done 1 h after a 7 mCi injection at stress. This study was followed by an injection of 25 mCi 99mTc-hexamibi at rest, a tomographic study was performed 60 min later. Myocardial sections were reconstructed in horizontal long, vertical long, and short axes. Data analysis also included polar map representation. A total of 324 segments were interpreted blind by 3 observers, there was an agreement in 283/324 (87.3%) segments between the 2 protocols. However, 24 segments (7.4%) judged ischemic on rest-stress were called scars on stress-rest.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Clinical comparison between thallium-201 and Tc-99m-methoxy isobutyl isonitrile (hexamibi) myocardial perfusion imaging for detection of coronary artery disease.

99mTc-hexamibi (methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) is a new 99mTc-hexakis analog that can be used as a myocardial perfusion imaging agent. The purposes of this study were to compare 99mTc-hexamibi to 201Tl-thallous chloride myocardial stress scintigraphy in patients referred for investigation of chest pain and to evaluate the sensitivity of 99mTc-hexamibi in detection of coronary artery disease. One hundred patients were prospectively studied with both 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamibi planar imaging. Sixty five patients had a current coronary angiography. There was a total of 97 significantly (less than or equal to 70%) stenosed major coronary arteries. 99mTc-hexamibi (25 mCi) study was done within a week of the 201Tl scan with similar double products upon standard treadmil stress testing. Rest studies with 99mTc-hexamibi were obtained 24-48 h after the stress test using the same acquisition parameters and dose. Analysis was performed blind by three observers. The left ventricle was divided into five segments in each image. Analysis of 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamibi results in 1500 left ventricle segments showed an overall agreement in 1326/1500 (88.4%) segments. Correlation between the patient diagnosis on the 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamibi studies showed an agreement in 89 patients (89%). 201Tl revealed myocardial uptake defects in 526 segments, detecting 72 out of 97 (74.2%) significantly stenosed coronary arteries and 99mTc-hexamibi detected 513 segments corresponding to 68 (70.1%) stenosed arteries (no significant statistical difference). In conclusion, these results show a good correlation between 201Tl and 99mTc-hexamibi myocardial imaging in the detection of significant coronary artery disease.

Adult↗

Myocardial perfusion imaging with a new radiotracer, technetium-99m-hexamibi (methoxy isobutyl isonitrile): comparison with thallium-201 imaging.

Technetium-99m-hexamibi (methoxy isobutyl isonitrile) is a Tc-99m-hexakis analog that can be used as a myocardial perfusion imaging agent. This is a report of an initial study that was performed in four institutions to assess the feasibility of Tc-99m-hexamibi myocardial imaging for the detection of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing treadmill stress test. Thirty-three patients referred for evaluation of chest pain had two exercise stress tests, one with Tl-201 and at least 24 hours after, and a second one with Tc-99m-hexamibi. Myocardial planar imaging started 60 minutes after injection at stress of 10-20 mCi of Tc-99m-hexamibi. Because this agent does not redistribute in myocardium after a stress injection, a second injection of 10-20 mCi of Tc-99m-hexamibi was performed with the patient at rest a few days later. Qualitative assessment of both Tl-201 and Tc-99m-hexamibi myocardial distribution was performed in 297 left ventricle segments (three segments of each of three views). There was a good correlation for the presence of normality, scar, or ischemia with the two radiopharmaceuticals, both on a segment by segment (259/297, or 87.2%) and patient-by-patient basis (29/33, or 87.9%). The number of segments found ischemic with Tl-201 and with Tc-99m-hexamibi were nearly equal, as were the number that were normal with one radiopharmaceutical and ischemic by the other. This initial study demonstrates that it is possible to detect stress-induced abnormalities of myocardial perfusion with Tc-99m-hexamibi similar to Tl-201 imaging.

Adult↗

Characterization of technetium-99m-L,L-ECD for brain perfusion imaging, Part 2: Biodistribution and brain imaging in humans.

The safety, biodistribution and kinetics of a new perfusion imaging agent [99mTc-L,L]-ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) was evaluated in normal volunteers. Technetium-99m-L,L-ECD is a neutral, lipophilic complex, which is radiochemically pure and stable. Twelve healthy adults were injected with 25-30 mCi of 99mTc-L,L-ECD and imaged periodically for up to 24 hr. Planar imaging showed rapid brain uptake with a peak concentration of 4.9% injected dose and very slow brain washout (approximately 6% per hour during the first 6 hr). Repeat or dynamic tomographic imaging of the brain using either a rotating gamma camera or a multidetector system was performed up to 6 hr postinjection. The distribution of 99mTc-L,L-ECD in the brain did not change and was similar to the pattern seen with other perfusion agents. Background facial areas and lungs cleared rapidly. Peak blood activity was below 10% injected dose at all times and 99mTc-L,L-ECD cleared rapidly through the kidneys. Vital signs, blood and urine chemistries were normal in all volunteers and no adverse reactions were noted. These results suggest that 99mTc-L,L-ECD should be useful for routine assessment of cerebral perfusion in humans.

Adult↗

Myocardial perfusion imaging with 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (MIBI): comparison of short and long time intervals between rest and stress injections. Preliminary results.

Unlike 201Tl, 99mTc-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) does not redistribute in the myocardium after injection. Thus, two separate injections of this new myocardial perfusion agent are required to differentiate ischemia from scar. An injection at stress followed by a 2nd injection at rest performed 24 h later, or the inverse, has been proposed. This protocol is not ideal in clinical practice. It would be preferred if both injections were performed on the same day. Fifteen patients with significant coronary artery disease demonstrated by coronary angiography and with at least one ischemic segment on the myocardial 201Tl study were evaluated within two weeks with the following protocol. On the same day (short time interval protocol), 3 images, each of 10 min duration (anterior, 45 degrees LAO and 70 degrees LAO views) were performed between 30 to 60 min after the injection at rest of 7-10 mCi 99mTc-MIBI. On completion of the rest study, the patient received 25-30 mCi 99mTc-MIBI at stress and images were again obtained 30 to 60 min later. Two days later (long time interval protocol) a stress study alone was repeated using 10 mCi 99mTc-MIBI with the same imaging time. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons between the short and the long time interval studies were performed by four experienced observers. Both protocols showed the same number of ischemic segments (52/225) and fixed defects (19/225). The diagnostic information of images was judged similar in nine patients while the short protocol was judged superior to the long protocol in five patients and inferior in 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Medullary thyroid carcinoma: localization of a mediastinal metastasis with I-131 MIBG.

An I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan was performed in a patient with a familial history of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2 and recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). The scan revealed a mediastinal metastasis from her MTC and there was also an imaging pattern of bilateral adreno-medullary hyperplasia. Although the literature indicates that I-131-MIBG scanning is not sufficiently sensitive for the detection of MTC, this procedure has proven to be of value in the management of chosen patients with MEN-associated MTC.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

Manometric and radionuclide assessment of pharyngeal emptying before and after cricopharyngeal myotomy in patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Fifteen patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy underwent cricopharyngeal myotomy for palliation of dysphagia. The aim of this work was to assess the effectiveness of this operation by using a radionuclide pharyngeal emptying study as a new quantitative method in addition to clinical and manometric evaluation. Radionuclide study was performed with the patient in both the upright and the supine positions after ingestion of 15 ml of water labeled with sulfur colloid 99mTc. Computerized data were acquired at 0.5 second intervals for 15 minutes and a pharyngeal time-activity curve was generated. Four quantitative parameters were evaluated: the time for pharyngeal clearance of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the ingested radioactive water and the pharyngeal stasis at 15 minutes. Manometric studies were also performed before and after cricopharyngeal myotomy. The pharyngeal clearance of 25%, 50%, and 75% of the water and pharyngeal stasis at 15 minutes were all improved by cricopharyngeal myotomy, decreasing from 1.2 to 0.9 second (p less than 0.04), 4.2 to 2 seconds (p less than 0.005), 15 to 7 seconds (p less than 0.02), and 10.3% to 6% (p less than 0.01), respectively. Both pharyngoesophageal and tracheobronchial symptoms were also significantly improved by cricopharyngeal myotomy. Manometric evaluation showed a decrease of the upper esophageal sphincter closing pressure from 60.1 mm Hg before to 28.2 mm Hg after the operation (p less than 0.001), and the resting pressure decreased from 34.4 to 15.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.0005). Cricopharyngeal myotomy significantly improves both symptoms and pharyngeal emptying in patients with oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Aged↗

Quantitative assessment of pelvic ileal reservoir emptying with a semisolid radionuclide enema. A correlation with clinical outcome.

Fecal stasis in an ileal reservoir may lead to overgrowth of bacteria and changes in mucosal morphology that are of future concern. Moreover, improper evacuation may lead to increased stool frequency and reduced continence. The aims of this study were: to compare the functional results of two types of ileal reservoirs constructed with an ileoanal anastomosis, to compare their emptying to a normal rectum as assessed by a radionuclide enema, and to correlate functional results with emptying. The reservoirs were made of two (J) or three (S) limbs of terminal ileum. Thirty-three patients (16 with J-pouch and 17 with S-pouch) and ten healthy controls were included in the study. There was no difference in the mean age of patients or interval following diverting ileostomy closure. Functional results were obtained by written questionnaire assessing stool frequency, and soiling, use of medication, need for intubation, and episodes of pouchitis. Emptying was measured with instillation per anus of a semisolid medium labeled with 1.0 mCi of Tc-99. Ileal pouch counts were measured using a scintillation camera and computer before and after spontaneous evacuation. The emptying was defined as the difference in counts divided by preevacuation counts. The functional results were similar in the two groups. Nocturnal soiling occurred more frequently in the S-pouch group. Pouchitis occurred in seven patients. Emptying of the two types of reservoir was similar (J: 72 +/- 4%, S: 67 +/- 5%), but it was less efficient than a normal rectum (90 +/- 3%, P less than 0.004). No correlation was established between age, sex, number of stools, pouchitis, and the efficacy of emptying. The clinical outcome of two patients who emptied less than 30%, however, was greatly improved by intermittent intubation. In conclusion, a semisolid radionuclide enema can be useful to identify patients who would benefit from intubation. No persistent defect in emptying was detected in patients with pouchitis.

Adult↗

Comparison of technetium-99m sulfur colloid and technetium-99m albumin colloid labeled solid meals for gastric emptying studies.

A Tc-99m albumin colloid (Tc-AC) kit has been introduced as an alternative to Tc-99m sulfur colloid (Tc-SC) for liver-spleen imaging. Since there is no need for boiling, the use of Tc-AC reduces preparation time and manipulation. Tc-SC is one of the most commonly used radiopharmaceuticals for the labeling of solid-phase markers in gastric emptying studies. In vitro studies were performed to evaluate the labeling efficiency and stability in hydrochloric acid and in human gastric juice of intracellularly labeled chicken liver and scrambled eggs labeled with Tc-SC and Tc-AC. Gastric emptying studies also were performed on 20 healthy volunteers with both Tc-SC and Tc-AC labeled scrambled egg sandwiches. There was no significant difference between Tc-SC and Tc-AC in the labeling efficiency of chicken liver (98% +/- 1% for Tc-SC, 96% +/- 2% for Tc-AC) and scrambled eggs (92% +/- 2% for Tc-SC, 91% +/- 3% for Tc-AC). However, both Tc-SC and Tc-AC labeled scrambled eggs showed a lower stability than chicken liver, particularly in human gastric juice. Gastric emptying curves from both meals in 20 normal subjects were also similar, with a mean half-emptying time of 85 +/- 13 minutes and 87 +/- 16 minutes for the meals containing Tc-SC and Tc-AC respectively. Tc-AC is a reliable alternative to Tc-SC as a radiotracer for solid-phase gastric emptying studies.

Adult↗

A reproducible radionuclide procedure for measurement of cerebrospinal fluid shunt flow.

A radionuclide technique was developed to obtain reproducible measurements of cerebrospinal fluid flow in Rickham-Holter type shunt systems. In attempting to reproduce previously described radionuclide procedures, we found that different flow rate measurements can be obtained simply by changing the radiotracer injection technique or the method of analysis of the time activity curves which are generated. The importance of these technical pitfalls cannot be over-emphasized, since there is no gold standard to evaluate cerebrospinal fluid flow in vivo. An experimental model with a calibrated Harvard pump and a shunt system filled with normal saline was constructed. Aliquots of 500 microCi of pertechnetate in 0.05 ml of saline were injected serially into the center of Rickham reservoir using a size 28 needle. Time-activity curves were obtained after waiting five min to reach equilibrium, and standard curves of radiotracer clearance vs actual flow for each system used clinically in our institution were generated. In addition, a technique to quantify and thus correct for the small but significant leak of radiotracer which occurs at the site of injection in the reservoir is described. Excellent correlation was obtained between our results and the clinical and radiological findings in a preliminary clinical evaluation.

Cerebrospinal Fluid↗

Thallium-201 myocardial imaging during pharmacologic coronary vasodilation: comparison of oral and intravenous administration of dipyridamole.

Although the diagnostic utility of thallium-201 myocardial imaging after dipyridamole infusion is well established, the intravenous form of the drug is not yet commercially available in North America. Fifty patients referred for coronary angiography were prospectively studied. Within a 2 week period, each patient underwent cardiac catheterization and thallium-201 myocardial imaging after both oral and intravenous dipyridamole administration. For the oral protocol, patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either 200 or 400 mg of dipyridamole in tablet form. Coronary artery stenoses of 70% or greater were considered significant. For the 25 patients who received a 200 mg oral dose of dipyridamole, the scintigraphic study showed perfusion defects in 65% of patients with significant coronary artery disease after the oral dose and in 85% of patients after the intravenous dose. For the 25 patients who received a 400 mg oral dose, the sensitivity of the scintigram was 84% after the oral dose and 79% after the intravenous dose. Except for headache and nausea, side effects were less severe and less frequent with oral (either 200 or 400 mg) than with intravenous dipyridamole. Because of the delayed and variable absorption of dipyridamole tablets, the oral studies required a longer period of medical supervision (45 to 60 minutes), and aminophylline was empirically administered after completion of the first set of thallium-201 images. It is concluded from this study that thallium-201 myocardial imaging after coronary vasodilation with a 400 mg oral dose of dipyridamole is a safe, widely available and reliable alternative for the evaluation of coronary artery disease in patients unable to achieve an adequate exercise level on stress testing.

Administration, Oral↗

Comparative evaluation of technetium-99m glucoheptonate and gallium-67 citrate thoracic imaging in detection of mediastinal and hilar involvement in primary lung cancer.

Fifty-two patients with proven primary lung cancer who were referred for mediastinoscopy were prospectively studied with Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Ga-67 citrate thoracic scintigraphy. Primary lung tumors concentrated Ga-67 in 92% of cases, compared to 88% for Tc-99m glucoheptonate. Mediastinoscopy confirmed the presence of mediastinal metastases in 23 patients. The sensitivity of Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Ga-67 scans for mediastinal involvement detection is respectively 52% and 83%, for a specificity of 100% (Tc-99m glucoheptonate) and 88% (Ga-67). Twenty-nine patients underwent thoracotomy after a negative mediastinoscopy. Hilar metastatic involvement was present in eight patients. The sensitivity and the specificity for detection of hilar involvement were respectively 63% and 95% for Tc-99m glucoheptonate and 88% and 78% for Ga-67. Although more specific than Ga-67 scan, Tc-99m glucoheptonate thoracic imaging cannot be recommended in the staging of lung cancer because of its low sensitivity in the detection of intrathoracic metastatic spread of primary lung carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Nuclear medicine and esophageal surgery.

The principal radionuclide procedures involved in the evaluation of esophageal disorders that are amenable to surgery are illustrated and briefly described. The role of the radionuclide esophagogram (RE) in the diagnosis and management of achalasia, oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy and its complications, tracheoesophageal fistulae, pharyngeal and esophageal diverticulae, gastric transposition, and fundoplication is discussed. Detection of columnar-lined esophagus by Tc-99m pertechnetate imaging and of esophageal carcinoma by Ga-67 citrate and Tc-99m glucoheptonate studies also is presented.

Barrett Esophagus↗