Intravenous radionuclide total body arteriography: a new technique.
We have developed a technique using a blood pool agent Tc-99m labeled red blood cells and a detector head set moving at a high speed to obtain total body arterial and blood pool images with only a single intravenous injection. Previously with an intravenous radiotracer injection, only regional arterial images could be obtained. Now, with this simple, non-invasive technique, we can evaluate the major arterial system, organs, and soft tissues in the whole body, as well as cardiac function. On reviewing 500 cases, more than 90% of the first-pass arterial phase images clearly demonstrated the aorta, ilio-femoral arteries, and, to a lesser extent, the more distal arteries in the lower extremities. The second-pass blood pool images revealed the anatomical and morphological status of the solid organs, as well as perfusion changes in various organs and soft tissues.