Abstract
Regional ventilation and perfusion studies are routinely performed with molecular nitrogen-13 (a short-lived positron emitter), a multicrystal positron camera, and a computer. These studies have the advantage of viewing with equal sensitivity all sections of the lung simultaneously. Nitrogen-13 is less soluble than xenon in blood and therefore allows more accurate ventilation imaging. The short half-life of the radiopharmaceutical allows simultaneous ventilation and perfusion scintigraphy of the lung. Unlike other imaging techniques in which the residual radioactivity persists in the lung for hours, nitrogen-13 is rapidly cleared allowing repetitive imaging. Ventilation and perfusion studies are part of the routine preoperative evaluation for lung cancer resection or for bullectomy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and for assessment of pulmonary emboli in the presence of chronic obstructive disease.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahluwalia B, Hales CA, Kazemi H, Brownell GL (1974) Positron camera imaging for the assessment of lung function. 1st World Cong Nucl Med, Tokyo, October 1974
Alpert NM, Correll JE, Deveau LA (1972) Collection, processing and display of dynamic functions. In: Gurney J et al. (Compilers) Sharing of computer programs and technology in nuclear medicine. AEC Conf-720430, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, pp 56–62
Alpert NM, Burnham CA, Hoop B Jr (1973) Clinical and research applications of multiprogrammed computer system. In: McClain WJ et al. (Compilers) Sharing of computer programs and technology in nuclear medicine. AEC Conf-730627, Miami, Florida, pp 64–76
Alpert NM, Burnham CA, Deveau LA (1975) NUMEDICS: A system for on-line data processing in nuclear medicine. J Nucl Med 16:386–392
Alpert NM, McKusick KA, Correia JA (1976) Initial assessment of a simple functional image of ventilation. J Nucl Med 17:88–92
Brownell GL, Burnham CA, Pizer SM (1971) NUMEDICS: A computer system for processing radioisotopes data from multiple sources. In: Clark FH et al. (Compilers) Sharing of computer programs and technology in nuclear medicine. AEC Conf-710425, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, pp 51–60
Brownell GL, Burnham CA, Hoop B Jr (1973) Positron scintigraphy with short-lived cyclotron produced radiopharmaceuticals and a multicrystal positron camera. In: Med Radioisotope Scintigraphy 1: 313–330. Int Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
Buckingham PD, Clark JC (1972) Nitrogen-13 solutions for research studies in pulmonary physiology. Int J Appl Radiat Isot 23:5–8
Burnham CA, Brownell GL (1972) A multicrystal positron camera. IEEE Trans Nucl Sci NS-19 (3):201–206
Fazio F, Jones T (1975) Assessment of regional ventilation by continuous inhalation of radioactive krypton-81 m. Br Med J 3:673–676
Greene R, Hoop BJr, Kazemi H (1971) Use of 13N in studies of airway closure and regional ventilation. J Nucl Med 12:719–723
Hales CA, Kazemi H (1974) Small airway function following myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 290:761–765
Hales CA, Ahluwalia B, Kazemi H (1975) Strength of pulmonary vascular response to regional alveolar hypoxia. J Appl Physiol 38:1083–1087
Jones SC, Bucelewicz WM, Brissette RA (1977) Production of 13N-molecular nitrogen for pulmonary positron scintigraphy. Int J Appl Radiat Isot 28:25–28
Matthews CME, Dollery CT (1964) Interpretation of 133Xe lung wash-in and wash-out curves using an analogue computer. Clin Sci 28:573–590
Matthews CME, Dollery CT, Clark JC (1966) In: Andrew GA et al. (eds). Radioactive pharmaceuticals, Conf 651111, p 567. US Atomic Energy Commission, Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Milic-Emili (1971) Radioactive xenon in the evaluation of regional lung function. Semin Nucl Med 1:246–262
Rosenzweig DY, Hughes JMB, Jones T (1969) Uneven ventilation within and between regions of the normal lung measured with nitrogen-13. Respir Physiol 8:86–97
Seeker-Walker RH, Hill RI, Markham J (1973) The measurement of regional ventilation in man: A method of quantitation. J Nucl Med 14:725–732
Shore NS, Greene R, Kazemi H (1971) Lung dysfunction in workers after exposure to enzyme B. Subtilis Envir Res 4:512–519
West JB, Dollery CT (1960) Distribution of blood flow and ventilation-perfusion ratio in the lung measured with radioactive CO2. J Appl Physiol 15:405–410
West JB (1970) Ventilation/blood flow and gas exchange. Blackwell, Oxford
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Formerly Associate in Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ahluwalia, B., Brownell, G.L., Hales, C. et al. Regional lung function evaluation with nitrogen-13. Eur J Nucl Med 6, 453–457 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252802
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00252802