Radioactivity in gastric juice-a simple adjunct to the Yb-169 DTPA cisternographic diagnosis of CSF rhinorrhea: concise communication.

A new method is offered as an adjunct to radionuclide cisternography and the measuring of radioactivity in nasal pledgets. The activity in gastric juice following the intrathecal injection of Yb-169-DTPA is measured and the ratio of gastric juice to blood is calculated. In patients suffering from CSF rhinorrhea the ratios significantly exceed the normal range. This method can be used to detect CSF leakage at the back of the nasopharynx, and in patients with head injuries too severe to permit the use of nasal pledgets.