Technetium-99m labelled imidodiphosphate: an improved bone-scanning radiopharmaceutical.

Technetium-99m labelled imidodiphosphate was prepared in the presence of stannous ions. It was evaluated as a bone-scanning agent in animals and patients. Comparative tissue distribution studies in mice showed a relatively higher uptake of radioactivity in bone when 99Tcm -labelled pyrophosphate and diphosphonate. Accumulation of radioactivity in soft tissues, especially kidneys, was less with this radiopharmaceutical. Results in patients were most satisfactory in delineating skeletal bone and identifying bone lesions with relatively small tracer doses of the radiopharmaceutical.