Radionuclide angiography of the popliteal arteries in occlusive vascular disease.

Before undertaking a femoro-popliteal bypass graft it is important to know whether the popliteal artery is patent to receive the distal end of the graft. Patency was assessed in 48 studies of 46 patients with peripheral vascular disease by radio-nuclide angiography. The procedure consists of imaging the popliteal arteries using a gamma camera after a bolus injection of 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate. The radio-nuclide angiograms were compared with the operative X-ray popliteal angiograms. Reliable information was obtained from the radio-nuclide images regarding the patency of the popliteal artery provided a femoral pulse was present. Quantitative data generated from the activity time curves were of no value in assessment of the patency of the popliteal arteries.