A new biliary scanning agent: technetium-99m-pyridoxylidene-glutamate

A pilot study was carried out on over 50 patients to assess the value and safety of technetium-99m-Pyridoxylideneglutamate (99sup(m)Tc-PG) as a cholescintigraphic agent in man. Sequential 4-minute gamma camera scintiphotos were recorded over the liver after the intravenous injection of 6-7 mCi 99sup(m)Tc-PG. Digital data were simultaneously recorded at 1-minute intervals on magnetic tape for subsequent computer analysis and time-activity curves for heart, liver, gall bladder and intestine were automatically obtained via a Calcomp X-Y plotter. In control subjects, the liver parenchymal phase commenced within seconds of injection, the common bile duct (CBD) was seen within 10 minutes and the gall bladder (GB) within 15 minutes. Radioactivity normally had entered the duodenum by 15 minutes and intense accumulation in the jejunum had occurred by 30 minutes. Urinary excretion of 99sup(m)Tc-PG was 13-14% of dose in the first hour and approximately 20 to 23% over the succeeding 14 hours. (author)