Radionuclide hysterosalpingography functional assessment of fallopian tube patency

Radionuclide hysterosalpingography examines the functional status of the fallopian tubes in patients with infertility. Technetium-labelled human albumin microspheres will normally migrate from the vagina to the ovaries in order to assess tubal patency. In the presence of fallopian tube obstruction, fibrosis or lack of motility, migration of particles does not take place, and the presence or absence of migration of technetium-labelled human albumin microspheres can be imaged using a gamma camera. In the evaluation of fallopian tube patency using radionuclide hysterosalpingography, as compared to the contrast hysterosalpinogram procedure, the sensitivity was found to be greater than 93 percent and the specificity greater than 92 percent. Radionuclide hysterosalpingography is a non-invasive means of functional and mechanical assessment of fallopian tube patency. (author). 11 refs., 2 tabs., 7 figs