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Regional Lung Volume Measurement by Transmission Scintigraphy

Southampton University Hospitals, Southampton, England

Correspondence: ¹ For reprints contact: John Fleming, Wessex Regional Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Shirley, Southampton S09 4XY, England.

ABSTRACT

A technique for the absolute measurement of regional lung volume using transmission scintigraphy is described. A gamma camera placed behind the patient detects radiation passing through the chest from a uniform source containing ^99mTc placed in front. The regional distribution of counts transmitted through the chest is recorded on a data handling unit linked to the camera. The regional distribution of anteroposterior chest thickness is also measured. From these two distributions it is possible, using a digital computer, to calculate the regional variation of lung volume. Total lung volumes measured in this way correlate very well with spirometer measurements. This technique overcomes the errors of regional lung volume measurement using ¹³³Xe gas where chest thickness variation, blood background, and nonuniform labeling of gas in poorly ventilating areas give false values. The technique is useful for measuring distributions of lung volume at different levels of respiration.