Radionuclide venography (RNV) in lower extremity venous disease.

Abstract

Radionuclide venography (RNV) of the pelvis and lower extremity veins using /sup 99/Tc-albumin microspheres was performed in 53 patients with pulmonary emboli or venous disease. In 25 patients who underwent both contrast radiography and RNV studies, there were no false-positive studies and one false-negative. In this series the accuracy of RNV exceeded that of Doppler alone. When the results of these two methods were combined, falsenegative studies were eliminated. Over half the patients with pulmonary emboli and clinically normal lower extremities had abnormal RNV studies. The exact method of thrombus localization is not known but both mechanical and electrostatic factors may be involved. RNV has been shown to be a safe, accurate, and easily performed examination that is particularly useful in evaluating patients with pulmonary emboli. (auth)