Radionuclide hysterosalpingography with technetium-99m-pertechnetate: application and radiation dose to the ovaries.

Although radionuclide hysterosalpingography (RNHSG) has been suggested as an efficient procedure for assessing function of fallopian tubes, the radiation dose to the ovaries was addressed as an important issue to be taken into consideration. We describe a modified method of RNHSG, calculating the radiation dose to the ovaries. A small dose of approximately 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) of [99mTc]pertechnetate was administered directly into the uterine cavity without overpressure. The accuracy of the method was 84.5% as compared with the contrast hysterosalpingography. The estimated average dose to the ovaries was 0.057 mGy/MBq (0.21 rad/mCi) or 1.08 mGy (108 mrad) per study. RNHSG is an accurate method for functional study of fallopian tube patency with low radiation dose.