Altered kinetics of 123I-IMP in irradiated rabbit lungs.

Radiation-induced alteration of intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP was investigated in 11 rabbits receiving a 50 Gy dose of radiation to one lung. In all 13 examinations of these rabbits, 3-17 weeks following radiation, the delayed images of 123I-IMP lung scintigrams showed abnormal accumulation in the irradiated lungs. The time-activity curves of the irradiated lung following injection of 123I-IMP had shallower downslopes of both the initial fast phase and the following slow phase than those of the non-irradiated lung. Finally the radioactivity of the irradiated lung exceeded that of the normal lung. The altered intrapulmonary kinetics of 123I-IMP in the irradiated lung was clearly confirmed. 99Tcm-MAA lung perfusion scintigrams showed reduced uptake in the irradiated lungs; the uptake decreased with time following radiation. Pulmonary arterial perfusion was considered to influence the distribution and kinetics of 123I-IMP, however, those of 123I-IMP did not reflect only the pulmonary arterial perfusion observed by 99Tcm-MAA scintigrams. Chest radiography and histological studies revealed a relatively slight change or injury of the irradiated lung in these rabbits. These results indicate that this agent could be useful in detecting and assessing early lung injury induced by radiation, and will give us pathological information in addition to lung perfusion in the peripheral area where the large 99Tcm-MAA molecule cannot reach.