Ventilation and perfusion imaging by electrical impedance tomography: a comparison with radionuclide scanning

Physiol Meas. 1998 Nov;19(4):481-90. doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/19/4/003.

Abstract

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a technique that makes it possible to measure ventilation and pulmonary perfusion in a volume that approximates to a 2D plane. The possibility of using EIT for measuring the left-right division of ventilation and perfusion was compared with that of radionuclide imaging. Following routine ventilation (81mKr) and perfusion scanning (99mTc-MAA), EIT measurements were performed at the third and the sixth intercostal level in 14 patients with lung cancer. A correlation (r = 0.98, p < 0.005) between the left-right division for the ventilation measured with EIT and that with 81mKr was found. For the left-right division of pulmonary perfusion a correlation of 0.95 (p < 0.005) was found between the two methods. The reliability coefficient (RC) was calculated for estimating the left-right division with EIT. The RC for the ventilation measurements was 94% and 96% for the perfusion measurements. The correlation analysis for reproducibility of the EIT measurements was 0.95 (p < 0.001) for the ventilation and 0.93 (p < 0.001) for the perfusion measurements. In conclusion, EIT can be regarded as a promising technique to estimate the left-right division of pulmonary perfusion and ventilation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Electric Impedance*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
  • Tomography / instrumentation*
  • Ventilation-Perfusion Ratio*

Substances

  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin