Miscellaneous Ethylenedicysteine Versus Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetic Acid as the Carrier of Technetium Tc 99m in Diuretic Renography for Patients with Upper Urinary Tract Obstruction (original) (raw)

Introduction: L,L-ethylenedicysteine (EC) is a new carrier of technetium Tc 99m (99m Tc) with a lower affinity to plasma albumin in comparison with diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA). We compared 99m Tc-EC scan with 99m Tc-DTPA scan in diuretic renography for patients with obstructive uropathy. Materials and Methods: Thirty-three patients with upper urinary tract obstruction were randomly selected and underwent diuretic renographies by 99m Tc-EC and 99m Tc-DTPA. The counts of radioisotope per pixel in the target (the kidney) and background tissues as well as the clearance half-life of these two radiopharmaceuticals were measured and compared. Results: Mean counts of radioisotope per pixel in the target tissue was not different between 99m Tc-EC and 99m Tc-DTPA scans, but in the background tissue, it was less for 99m Tc-EC (P = .003). Target-background ratio was higher for 99m Tc-EC scan (3.80 ± 2.11 versus 2.48 ± 1.39; P < .001). Renal clearance half-life of radioisotope ...