A Static Scintigraphy for Imaging Aspiration Using Semi-Solid Food

Yoon, Minki; Hwang, Kyung Hoon; Choe, Wonsick

Abstract

PURPOSE: Aspiration scintigraphy is a procedure of nuclear imaging to evaluate aspiration and of quantifying the amount of aspirate. The ultimate goal of our study is to define the correlation between aspiration and aspiration pneumonia by aspiration scintigraphy, and this is a preliminary report of its trial.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten patients with positive findings by videofluoroscopy were selected. The patients ingested semi-solid food containing Tc-99m tin colloid 92.5 MBq (2.5 mCi) and images were acquired immediately after the ingestion and 3 hrs later. A fraction of aspiration to the ingested was calculated using an equation with a decay correction.
RESULTS
Five patients were interpreted positive by aspiration scintigraphy. Four patients were positive at initial images and the fractions of aspiration were 0.11%, 0.11%, 0.81%, and 0.11%. The one patient who was shown aspirated at both images had initial 5.82% and delayed 2.26%.
CONCLUSION
Aspiration scintigraphy enables us to localize the aspiration at any desired time of the test and to quantify its amount. Follow-up studies are warranted.