8181247 |
Moriarty KT, Perkins AC, Robinson AM, Wastie ML, Tattersall RB: Investigating the capillary circulation of the foot with 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin: a prospective study in patients with diabetes and foot ulceration. Diabet Med. 1994 Jan-Feb;11(1):22-7. Macroaggregated albumin has been used to assess capillary circulation for over 20 years. The aim of the present study was to use 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (99mTc-MAA) perfusion scanning to assess capillary circulation in feet with ischaemic ulcers in patients with diabetes, and relate the appearances to outcome. Twenty-three patients with diabetes presented with a total of 41 neuroischaemic foot ulcers. Perfusion scanning was performed by direct femoral artery injection of approximately 400,000 particles of 99mTc-MAA and imaging with a gamma camera. Patients were followed prospectively for 3 months. Scans were graded independently by a radiologist who was unaware of the site of the ulcers. Significant associations were detected between a radiologist's assessment of increased tissue perfusion and complete healing after 3 months (p = 0.047) and poor tissue perfusion on the image and failure to heal (p = 0.0005). This technique may be useful in deciding whether to persist with conservative treatment in patients with diabetes and foot ulceration. |
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