¹³¹I-MAA Lung Scans Processed by the Electronic Computer

Abstract

As previously reported, we record lung scans in the paper tapes with the routine scintigrams simultaneously. By using these tapes we processed the scintigrams with TOSBAC 40 TIME SHARING SYSTEM electronic computer. The anterior and posterior scintigrams were recorded with the Toshiba scintiscanner (φ: 3 in.) with the 37 hole collimator (the distance of focus: 10 cm), after intravenous administration of ¹³¹I-MAA to the sitting patient.
The quality of the images was compared among original scintigram, the nonsmoothed digital printed by the computer, and the smoothed digital. By smoothing the original, the image of lung scans was improved remarkably and appeared to be useful in clinical use. The computer displayed each point in 10 different marks according to the number of counts, which enabled us to recognize the radioactivity of the points semiquantitatively.
Furthermore the integral counts of both lung fields were calculated. The normal anterior values were 43.2±4.9% (N=10) in the left and 56.8±4.9% in the right; posterior values were 46.7±2.7% (N=6) in the left and 53.3±2.7 in the right.
The ratio of each level of the counts between left and right lung was also compared. All these data were obtained very easily by the computer and expected to be useful clinically.