The present state of nuclear medicine practice in Japan. A report of the 4th nation-wide survey in 1997

The present state of nuclear medicine practice was surveyed for 1 month in June, 1997 by questionnaire. There was an answer from 1,195 of 1,241 facilities in Japan. Total number of in-vivo test were 151,746 per year which increased by 13% from five years ago, and by 19% from ten years ago. Enforcement ratio of SPECT was 30.1%, and increased remarkably compared with ratio (17%) of five years ago. About 90% of profits of SPECT were myocardium and brain blood flow. As to the test frequency of each organs, it increased remarkably in brain·spinal cord (1.5 fold). On the other hand, it decreased to 0.6 fold from five years ago in thyroid gland and liver·cholecyst. Frequency according to test item and its increase rate compared with five years ago was as follows. In scintigraphy, bone 26.9% (1.3 fold), myocardium 19.6% (1.9 fold), tumor 11.9%, brain blood flow 9.4% (1.5 fold), pulmonary blood flow 2.7%, thyroid gland 2.5% (0.6 fold), and renogram 2.3% (0.7 fold). As to the dosage ratio of medicine used in each organs, 99mTc-HMDP was 69% in bone·joint, 201Tl for the myocardium scintigraphy was 81% in heart·blood vessel, 99mTc was 58% in brain·spinal cord, and the ratio of 67Ga cytrate was 84% in tumor·inflammation. PET was enforced in 24 facilities. The total number of test for one year was 11,470 which was about 2 fold of that of five years ago. 18F-FDG was the most used medicine and increased to 3.2 fold of five years ago. Total number of in-vitro test was 47,820,000 per year which decreased compared to the number 60,180,000 of five years ago. As to frequency, tumor marker was 29.3%, thyroid gland function was 13.3%, and a hepatitis virus antigen·antibody was 12.9%. As to the subject of examination, CEA was 7.9%, HCV antibody (the third generation) was 5.0%, and CA19-9 was 4.8%. Usage of IgE made a sudden drop and number of order became less than 10. (K.H.)