[Determination of brain death in children: 99mTc-HM-PAO and 123(I)-amphetamine scintigraphy as a new, noninvasive method].

In comatose children and infants, clinical signs of brain death and EEG monitoring may be of limited value, whilst determination of cerebral blood flow can provide more direct information. Beside radionuclide bolus angiography of polar radiopharmaceuticals with sequential technique, two radioisotopes are introduced as suited for static brain images. Injection of 123I-amphetamine or 99mTc labelled lipophilic complex HM-PAO into the peripheral venous circulation enables a precise static imaging of parenchymatous brain perfusion and cellular function so that critical deficits or complete loss of cerebral perfusion can be readily documented.