The assessment of digital vessel disease by dynamic hand scanning

A method of assessing hand and digital vessel perfusion is described. It involves an intravenous injection of Tc99m pertechnetate with monitoring of the isotope uptake in the hands and fingers by a gamma camera equipped with a small computer. The technique allows visual evaluation of the arterial supply and a means of quantifying digital perfusion. An evaluation of the technique in normal hands, in patients with digital vessel disease from vibration trauma, Raynaud's and embolism from an ulnar artery aneurysm is described. The potential of the technique in quantifying response to treatment is illustrated by sequential isotope hand scans in a patient treated for obliterative disease of the fingers.