Lung perfusion scanning studies on pulmonary radiolesions after 60Co teletherapy of operated cancer of the breast and on polycythaemia vera following radiophosphorus therapy

When X-ray and scintigraphic control examinations were carried out on 75 patients with cancer of the breast, the X-ray examinations showed pulmonary radiolesions in 37.3% (28 patients) at an average of 12 weeks after radiotherapy with tele 60Co. The scintigraphic examination, on the other hand, showed a reduced activity concentration - a sign of disturbed blood flow through the lungs - in only 13.0% (9 patients). A reactive increase in blood flow in the form of a higher particle concentration in the irradiated lobe of the lung immediately after irradiation was scintigraphically detected in 21.3% (16 patients). In 15 patients with polycythaemia vera who had been treated with 32P, the lung perfusion scan detected 4 cases of stopped blood supply without correlative X-ray findings or episodes of embolism in clinical anamnesis. (orig./AK)