Correction of attenuation in whole-body determination of Co-57 B12 absorption: concise communication.

The use of Co-57-labeled B12 for whole-body measurement of B12 uptake in humans has the advantage over Co-58 of easy commercial availability and lower cumulative radiation to the liver, but the disadvantage of significant attenuation. Methods devised to correct for the attenuation have used inaccurate early 100% counts. A method is described here that uses a liver phantom, containing a dissolved Co-57 B12 capsule, in a water tank. The ratios of upper to lower detector counts is related to total counts; it varies at different depths in the tank, and with the overall tank depth that is selected to accord with measured body habitus. The ratio of detector counts in the final patient count is used to read off the appropriate 100% total count. With this technique there is a clear discrimination between normal patients and those with pernicious anemia.