Radiopharmaceutical options for the ventilation part of ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy performed for the indication of pulmonary embolism: US practice survey

Adam Opanowski, Lucas J. Gross, Mark Tulchinsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose This US survey aimed to determine (1) relative utilization of the 2 techniques, a gas radiopharmaceutical technique (GRT) versus aerosolized radiopharmaceutical technique (ART), in ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy done for pulmonary embolism indication and (2) radiopharmaceuticals (RFs) used. Patients and Methods Nuclear medicine physicians and technologists were sent a questionnaire asking which RF(s) their imaging facilities are using for ventilation imaging. Respondents were classified as reporting from academic/teaching facilities (ATFs) or from community-based facilities (CBFs). Results Of the 256 surveyed, 78 responded (30.5%), who reported about 158 facilities. Majority (90/158, 57%) were CBFs, whereas the rest (68/158, 43%) were ATFs. Overall, slight majority (92/158, 58%) used ART, 90 using 99mTc-DTPA, one using 99mTc-sulfur colloid (SC), and one using 99mTc-PYP. Minority (66/158, 42%) used GRT (all 133Xe). In the CBFs, a slight majority (55/90, 61%) used ART (including one that used 99mTc-PYP), whereas the rest 35 (39%) of 90 used GRT. In the ATFs, a slight majority (37/68, 54.4%) used ART (including 1 facility that used 99mTc-SC), whereas the rest (31/68, 45.6%) used GRT. There was no statistically significant difference in ART:GRT ratios between CBFs and ATFs (P = 0.35). Conclusions Aerosolized RF technique is overall more common (57%) than GRT, about the same at CBFs and at ATFs, and almost all ART using 99mTc-DTPA. Therefore, 99mTc-DTPA price increase would have impacted a significant number of the US facilities, which should increase interest in alternatives identified by this survey - 99mTc-SC and 99mTc-PYP.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)553-558
Number of pages6
JournalClinical nuclear medicine
Volume40
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 20 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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