Transverse section imaging with carbon-11 labeled carbon monoxide

The inhalation of small quantities of carbon-11 labeled carbon monoxide results in a useful red cell label to identify vascular structures in the body and quantitate red cell concentration in tissues. Transverse section images are obtained using PC-II, the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Positron Camera. Attenuation correction is performed either by means of transmission data or by analytical methods. Sets of transverse section images give information on red cell distribution in head and torso. Such images may be useful in identifying vascular abnormalities or in quantitating red cell physiology.