A facility for in vivo measurement of kidney and liver cadmium by neutron capture prompt gamma ray analysis

Abstract

An in vivo method for the determination of Cd levels in human kidney and liver has been developed. The method allows detection of absolute quantities of Cd in the left kidney and Cd concentration in the liver. The limit of detection of cadmium is 2.5 mg for the left kidney and 1.8 microgram/g (wet weight) for the liver, for a localized dose of 670 mrem. The effects of patient positioning, organ geometry and liver-kidney interference on the measurement have been investigated using an Alderson phantom.