To the point – an overview of the most important scintigraphies:
Intracardiac scintigraphy
Indication:
- Checking pump performance during chemotherapy with drugs that damage the heart.
- Determining the timing of surgery for a specific valve defect (aortic regurgitation) or cardiac function prior to heart transplantation
Duration:
- 2-3 hours
Hint:
- Is hardly ever done (but rather ultrasound or MRI).
Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy
Indication:
- Circulatory disorders (CHD).
Duration:
- Up to 5 hours (as late shots are made only after about 4 hours).
Notice:
- Sober (v.a. no coffee).
- Discontinuation of medications that affect blood flow (after consultation with doctor).
Skeletal scintigraphy
Indication:
- Primarily for screening tumors whose metastases frequently settle in bone, e.g., breast, prostate, lung, thyroid cancer
- Inflammation and other changes in bones and joints.
- If loosening or infection of prostheses (eg, in the hip) is suspected.
- Circulatory disorders of the bone
Duration:
- 2-5 hours (early shots within the first 10 min, late shots after a few hrs, as it takes a long time for the substance to be absorbed into the bone).
Tip:
- Drink plenty of fluids and empty bladder frequently to reduce radiation exposure to urinary bladder
Perfusion scintigraphy, ventilation scintigraphy.
Indication:
- Pulmonary embolism
- Estimation of regional lung function prior to lung surgery, e.g., for tumors
Duration:
- 30-60 minutes
Hint:
- In bronchial asthma previously bronchodilator drug.
Renal function scintigraphy
(Renal excretion scintigraphy, renal perfusion scintigraphy) Indication:
- Renal artery stenosis
- Disease of the renal corpuscles (link to “glomerulonephritis“).
- Scars, malformations
- Disorders of the urinary tract
- Before kidney surgery for tumor
- Checking kidney function during chemotherapy with drugs that damage the kidneys and after kidney transplantation.
Duration:
- 45-60 minutes
Hint:
- Drink plenty beforehand (> 500 ml of liquid)
Static renal scintigraphy
Indication:
- For atypical location or malformations of the kidneys.
- Suspicion of kidney injury
- Suspicion of renal tuberculosis
Duration:
- 15-30 minutes
Hint:
- Application rather rare
Thyroid scintigraphy
Indication:
- Assessment of thyroid structure
- Clarification of an abnormality in an ultrasound examination.
- In preparation for radioiodine therapy
Duration:
- 20 minutes
Hint:
- The intake of iodine-containing drugs (eg, also contrast media) must be at least 4 weeks ago
- Before that, the current hormone levels in the blood are determined
Suppression scintigraphy
Indication:
- Suspicion of autonomic adenoma not otherwise clearable.
Duration:
- 45 minutes
Notice:
- The intake of iodine-containing drugs (eg, also contrast media) must be at least 4 weeks ago
- Before that, the current hormone levels in the blood are determined
