Nuclear diagnostics of joint inflammations using sup(99m)Tc-pertechnetate

The accumulation of radiopertechnetate in an inflammatory process is a more objective indicator of the severity of the inflammation than the clinical picture or the subjective complaints of the patient. In progressive polyarthritis, there was a 77.6% positivity of radiopertechnetate accumulation compared to a 62% clinical positivity. The advantages of this examination method in following up the effectiveness of surgical treatment of synovitis are pointed out. A wide applicability of this nuclear diagnostic procedure is indicated. (author)