Simultaneous measurement of 59Fe and 51Cr in iron absorption studies using a whole-body scanner with mobile shielding.

A whole-body scanner is described with a mobile shadow shield which affords a considerable reduction in space. The scanner has two NaI(T1) scintillation crystals of 4 x 6", placed at opposite sites of the subject. Background radiation, efficiency and geometric qualities made the scanner very useful for clinical whole-body counting. The equipment was used in iron absorption studies using a double isotope technique with 59Fe and 51Cr. After ingestion of an oral test dose total body kinetics of 59Fe and 51Cr was followed up to 60 days in 4 volunteers. Between days 3 and 10 the 51Cr, which was used as an non-absorbable indicator, had left the body completely. The 59Fe reached a constant value not before day 10, indicating that iron retention cannot be measured before that time. From repeated measurement of 59Fe and 51Cr directly after ingestion until the first defaecation it could be deduced that the coefficient of variation for 59Fe was less than 1.5% with a scanning time of 600 sec, and for 51Cr less than 5%. Extreme variations in geometry, such as measurement of the activity in a beaker and of the same amount after ingestion in the body, yielded practically the same value for 59Fe. The double isotope technique made it possible to measure not only iron retention but also mucosal uptake and mucosal transfer of iron. It is pointed out that measurement of the last two parameters of iron absorption is not possible in patients with serious obstipation or with very low mucosal uptake values.