Procedure Purposes and Tracers

What is the purpose of a Gated Blood Pool (MUGA) study?

evaluates ventricular function using labeled red blood cells

What is the purpose of a myocardial perfusion study?

assesses blood flow to the myocardium (heart) at rest and at stress

What is the purpose of a viability study?

determines if myocardial tissue is still working or scarred

What tracer is used for a gated blood pool (MUGA) study?

Tc-99m labeled RBCs

What tracer is used for myocardial perfusion study?

• Tc-99m Sestamibi

• Tc-99m Tetrofosmin

• Tl-201

What tracer is used for a viability study?

• Tc-99m Sesamibi

• Tc-99m Tetrofosmin

What is the purpose of an amyloid imaging study?

detect amyloid protein deposits in the heart muscle (cardiac amyloidosis)

What tracer is used for amyloid imaging studies?

• Tc-99m PYP

• Tc-99m DPD

What is the purpose of thyroid uptake/imaging?

assess thyroid function and visualize gland morphology

What tracer is used for thyroid uptake/imaging?

• I-123 for imaging

• I-131 for therapy

What is the purpose of a parathyroid study?

detects overactive parathyroid tissue, usually adenoma (single enlarged gland) or hyperplasia (multiple enlarged glands)

What is the tracer for parathyroid studies?

Tc-99m Sestamibi (Cardiolite)

What is the purpose for a neuroendocrine study?

looking for somatostatin receptor-positive or catecholamine producing tumors

What tracer is used for a neuroendocrine study?

• In-111 (old)

• Ga-68 Dotatate (currrent)

• Lu-177 Dotatate (therapy)

What is the purpose of an adrenal imaging study?

assessment of radiotracer uptake in adrenal glands, bones, and metastatic sites which evaluates pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and paraganglioma

What tracer is used in an adrenal imaging study?

• I-123 MIBG

• I-131 MIBG

What is the purpose of a tumor total/whole body study?

designed to look for cancer throughout the entire body

What tracer is used in a tumor total/whole body study?

F-18 FDG

What is the purpose of a gastric emptying study?

measures how quickly food leaves your stomach by tracking a small amount of radioactive material in a meal

What tracer is used for a gastric emptying study?

• Tc-99m sulfur colloid (solid)

• Tc-99m DTPA (liquid)

• In-111 DTPA (liquid)

What is the purpose of a gastroesophageal reflux study?

measures the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus by a weak or relaxed esophageal sphincter

What tracer is used in a gastroesophageal reflux study?

Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid in 150-300 mL water/juice

What is the purpose of a Meckel’s diverticulum study?

detects ectopic gastric mucosa in a Meckel’s diverticulum; find a small abnormal pouch in the intestine that can cause unexplained bleeding

What tracer is used in a Meckel’s diverticulum study?

Tc-99m Pertechnetate

What is the purpose of a GI bleed study?

uses red blood cells to detect and localize gastrointestinal bleeding

What tracer is used in a GI bleed study?

Tc-99m RBCs

What is the purpose of a hepatobiliary (HIDA) study?

check how well the gallbladder and bile ducts are working, helping find problems like cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, and/or bile leaks

What tracer is used for a hepatobiliary (HIDA) study?

• Tc-99m Mebrofenin

• Tc-99m Disofenin

What is the purpose of a RBC hemangioma (hepatic blood pool) study?

confirm that a liver mass is a benign hemangioma by showing that it fills with the patient’s own labeled red blood cells over time

What tracer is used for a RBC hemangioma (hepatic blood pool) study?

Tc-99m labeled autilogus RBCs

What is the purpose of a liver/spleen study?

evaluate the size, shape, position, and function of the liver and spleen, and to detect abnormalities such as tumors, cysts, infections, or splenic sequestration

What tracer is used for a liver/spleen study?

Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid

What is the purpose of a renal function study?

evaluates kidney perfusion (blood flow), function, and drainage

What tracer is used for a renal function study?

• Tc-99m MAG3

• Tc-99m DTPA

What is the purpose of a renal cortical study?

evaluate the structure and function of the kidneys, detect scarring, infections, or congenital abnormalities, and assess how well each kidney is working individually

What is the tracer used in a renal cortical study?

Tc-99m DMSA

What is the purpose of a planar bone study?

evaluates abnormal areas in the bones, such as infection, fractures, arthritis, and cancer spread

What tracer is used in a planar bone study?

• Tc-99m MDP

• Tc-99m HDP

What is the purpose of a 3-phase bone study?

evaluates for infection, fractures, or inflammation by checking blood flow, soft tissue, and bone activity overtime

What tracer is used for a 3 -phase bone study?

• Tc-99m MDP

• Tc-99m HDP

What is the purpose of a total/whole body study?

detect and evaluate the spread of cancer, monitor response to treatment, or look for areas of abnormal activity anywhere in the body

What tracer is used in a total/whole body scan?

• Tc-99m MDP

• Tc-99m HDP

What is the purpose of a SPECT or SPECT/CT bone study?

evaluates to look for fractures, bone infections, tumors or metastases, and joint or prosthetic problems

What tracer is used for a SPECT or SPECT/CT bone study?

• Tc-99m MDP

• Tc-99m HDP

What is the purpose of a Gallium-67 Citrate study?

evaluates for infection, inflammation, and certain cancers such as lymphoma

What tracer is used in a Gallium-67 Citrate study?

Gallium-67

What is the purpose of a In-111 labeled WBC study?

uses patient’s blood and tagged with indium to detect infection or inflammation in the body

What tracer is used in an In-111 labeled WBC study?

In-111

What is the purpose of a Tc-99m Exametazine (Ceretec) labeled WBC study?

detect areas of infection or inflammation in the body by tracking the patient’s own white blood cells, which naturally go to sites of infection

What tracer is used in a Tc-99m Exametazime (Ceretec) Labeled WBC study?

Tc-99m Exametazime (Ceretec)

What is the purpose of a PET/CT bone study?

detects and locates abnormal bone metabolism, such as cancer or infection

What tracer is used for a PET/CT bone scan?

F-18 FDG

What is the purpose of a brain death study?

evaluates cerebral blood flow to determine if there is irreversible cessation of all brain activity

What tracer is used in a brain death study?

• Tc-99m HMPAO (Ceretec)

• Tc-99m ECD (Neurolite)

What is the purpose of a SPECT or SPECT CNS study?

3D imaging test that evaluates abnormal brain blood flow caused by stroke, seizures, tumors, dementia, or infections

What tracer is used in a SPECT or SPECT CNS study?

• Tc-99m HMPAO (Ceretec)

• Tc-99m ECD (Neurolite)

What is the purpose of a PET/CT CNS study?

evaluates brain metabolism or function

What tracer is used in a PET/CT CNS study?

F-18 FDG

What is the purpose of a Cisternography/CSF leak study?

evaluates for CSF leaks or blockages

What tracer is used in a Cisternography/CSF leak study?

• Tc-99m DTPA

• Tc-99m Pertechnetate

• In-111 DTPA

What is the purpose of a shunt patency study?

checks to see if a cerebrospinal fluid shunt is open and functioning

What tracer is used in a shunt patency study?

Tc-99m DTPA

What is the purpose of a ventilation lung study?

evaluates the airflow to the lungs

What tracer is used in a ventilation lung study?

• Xe-133 gas

• Tc-99m DTPA aerosol

What is the purpose of a perfusion lung study?

evaluates blood flow to the lungs

What tracer is used in a perfusion lung study?

Tc-99m MAA

What is the purpose of a Quantitative lung study?

measure how much blood (perfusion) and air (ventilation) each lung or lung region is receiving, often to assess lung function before surgery, detect pulmonary embolism, or evaluate regional lung disease

What tracer is used for a quantitative lung study?

Tc-99m MAA

What is the purpose of a hepatic artery perfusion study (HAPS)?

evaluate blood flow to the liver, usually to check for liver tumors, assess liver function, or plan treatments like targeted chemotherapy or radioembolization

What tracer is used for a hepatic artery perfusion study (HAPS)?

Tc-99m MAA

What is the purpose of a breast lymphoscintigraphy study?

maps lymphatic drainage from the breast to identify sentinel nodes for surgery

What is the tracer for a breast lymphoscintigraphy study?

• Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid (filtered)

• Tc-99m Tilmanocept (Lymphoseek)

What is the purpose of a skin lesion lymphoscintigraphy study?

maps lymphatic drainage from a skin tumor to identify sentinel lymph node(s)

What is the tracer used for a skin lesion lymphoscintigraphy study?

Tc-99m Sulfur Colloid (filtered)