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Bone scanning in patients with pleural effusion—Experience in 76 cases

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Abstract

Seventy-six patients with malignant or benign pleural effusion were studied to determine the incidence of accumulation of99mTc-MDP in relation to effusion, and reveal the mechanism. Of 76 patients, 46 (61%) were found to have diffuse uptake of99mTc-MDP in the hemithorax, with almost the same positive rate in malignant and benign effusions, i.e. 62% and 57%, respectively. Of 46 patients, 32 (70%) showed diffuse, slight accumulation in the hemithorax, and the positive rate had a tendency to be higher with the increase in the effusion volume.

We are convinced that the major mechanism of unilateral intrathoracic accumulation of99mTc-MDP in pleural effusion is a passive transudation.

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Kosuda, S., Yokoyama, K., Nishiguchi, I. et al. Bone scanning in patients with pleural effusion—Experience in 76 cases. Ann Nucl Med 4, 55–58 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03164596

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03164596

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