Scintigraphic diagnostics

Abstract

In 1951 examination of the liver using radionuclides was rendered possible through the development of an automatic scanner (B. Cassen et al.). In the same year, liver scintigraphy was also introduced by R. L. Wieland. The first proof of liver metastases was obtained in animal experiments in 1953 by means of ¹³¹I-albumin (E. Yuhl et al.). As early as 1954, liver scintigraphy was applied in the clinical setting (L. Stirrett et al.). Since 1955, several ¹³¹I-labelled substances excreted through bile, such as rose bengal (G. V. Taplin et al.), later also bromsul-phane, have become available for functional assessment in hepatology. In 1958 G.V. Taplin et al. reported on their own clinical experience. • The development of the scintillation camera was a further major advance (H. O. Anger et al. 1959). Using the scintillation camera, sequential images could be taken in rapid succession. In 1971 C. Winkler et al. were the first investigators to use a scintillation-camera process-control computer system for studying the hepatic blood flow. • The following radionuclides were available: ¹⁹⁸aurum (L. Stirrett et al., 1954; H. N. Wagner et al. 1961), ^99mtechnetium (P.V. Harper et al., 1964), ¹³³xenon (J. R. Rees et al., 1964), and ¹¹³indium (A.A. Goodwin et al., 1966).