Dynamic 99mTc-DTPA renal gammagraphy with glomerular filtration rate determination.

Using the method of 99mTc-DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid), sequential renal gammagraphy with subsequent glomerular filtration rate determination by means of a gamma-camera and computer, a total of 285 patients with suspected renal and urinary tract diseases, subjects after surgery on these organs or those serving as controls after drug therapy were examined. With the help of a modified computer user's program, a study was designed to perform quantitative evaluation of some functional parameters as well as determination of total and separate glomerular filtration rate values by 99mTc-DTPA according to Gates. The benefits of the method employed in our study are that it is non-invasive, rapid, atraumatic, with low exposure to radiation while offering a broad range of applications in routine diagnostic practice of nephrology, and especially so in paediatric patients.

The status of nuclear medicine techniques in the diagnosis of bone metastases in breast cancer.

In this article, the authors present their experience with the diagnosis of bone metastases in patients with breast cancer using bone scintigraphy with 99mTc phosphonate and radioimmunological determination of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptic antigen (TPA). In a group of 395 patients, there was agreement between tumour markers (CEA, TPA) and the results of bone scintigraphy in 331 cases (84%)--negative in 193 cases (49%) and positive (i.e.

Value correlation of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin with the results of lymphadenectomy in non-seminomatous testicular tumours.

In a group of 131 patients with nonseminomatous testicular tumours, the authors correlated the postorchiectomic levels of alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin with the results of lymphadenectomy. They found 90.5% correlation of negative and 74% of positive levels of tumour markers with results of lymphadenectomy.

Significance of carcinoembryonic and tissue polypeptide antigen determination in the diagnosis of metastases in breast cancer.

A radioimmunological assay of CEA and TPA levels in breast cancer patients revealed a 93.7% concordance of negative and 93.4% of positive values with the clinical activity of the disease.

The value of combination of bone scanning and measurement of carcinoembryonic antigen in diagnosis of breast cancer metastases.

The authors compared the results of bone scintigraphy and determination of CEA levels in a group consisting of 167 patients suffering from breast cancer with suspect distant metastases. The high agreement (79%) in results of both of examinations increase the diagnostic reliability of distant metastases. In the case of disagreement the bone scanning should be considered as a more sensitive method.

Experiences with bone scanning in differential diagnosis of local bone lesions.

Because some primary tumours often metastasize to the skeleton, their early detection is essential for further therapy and prognosis. Radiographic examination is not sufficiently sensitive for early detection of bone metastases, because it can reveal the typical sign of metastases--decalcification--only after loss of 30-50% of the original amount of calcium from bone tissue (18). Bone scanning with bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals represents a viable technique for early detection of bone lesions, especially early metastatic disease.

Significance of radioimmunoassay of human chorionic gonadotropin and alpha fetoprotein in nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the testis.

Radioimmunoassays of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) made in 49 patients with nonseminomatous testicular tumors have shown that these investigations make the diagnosis more precise, permit to follow up the dynamics of the course of the disease and the effectiveness of treatment and may help to reveal the presence of otherwise undetectable tumorous metastases. The significance of the these assays is enhanced if the two tumorous proteins are investigated in parallel. The results proved rightly positive in 43 (87.