The use of 123I labelled oestradiol in detecting the human prostate using a gamma camera

123I labelled oestradiol was administered into patients with either benign hypertrophy or malignancy of the prostate, in order to detect the prostate. Using a gamma camera the results showed considerable radioactivity in the bladder-prostate region. The exact anatomical position of the prostate was determined by emptying the bladder and introducing 123I labelled sodium iodide into the balloon of the catheter already inserted in the bladder. The results demonstrated that the detected radioactivity in this region was in the bladder rather than the prostate. This conclusion was later confirmed by the presence of high level of the radioactivity in the urine and the extremely low concentration of the radioactivity in the prostate after the removal of the gland.