Scintigraphic diagnosis of experimental pulmonary embolism with In-111-labeled platelets.

Stasis thrombi, radiolabeled with Tc-99m sulfur colloid, were produced in six dogs by the injection of human thrombin into isolated jugular vein segments. After release of the thrombi, scintigraphic images demonstrated 16 pulmonary emboli containing Tc-99m. Autologous platelets labeled by the In-111 oxine method were injected. Sequential images demonstrated platelet accumulation in 14 of the 16 emboli within 1 hr. The emboli were recovered at autopsy and their activity assayed. The mean uptake of In-111-labeled platelets was 1.1% dose/g of embolus, and the mean embolus-to-blood ratio was 16. Our results demonstrate that fresh pulmonary emboli in dogs can be detected by imaging with In-111-labeled platelets, and suggest that radiolabeled platelets may provide a simple, noninvasive method for the direct visualization of pulmonary emboli in patients.