Andrey S. Lopatin:
>Could anybody from the Nose group give me a detailed description of
>the radioisotope method for measurement of the antral mucociliary clearance
>in humans. I would appreciate any comments from Markus Rauitiainen if he is
>still a member of the group. What quantity of tracer must be injected
>into the sinus? Does it depend on an individual patient or form of the
>sinus disease? I would like also to have more information about the method
>used by Behrbohm and Kaschke.
>Best regards,

>Andrey Lopatin, MD
>Chairman ENT Department
>Presidential Medical Centre
>P.O.Box 4, 121614 Moscow Russia
>fax +095-414 0464
>e-mail: lopatinUArhinol.msk.ru

Dear Andrey S Lopatin,
Our method for measuring antral mucociliary clearance: First we introduce under 
local anaesthesy irrigation tubes (Sinoject) through inferior meatus into the 
maxillary sinuses. Then using a thin cathedra and 1 ml syring we instil only a 
drob (0.03 ml) of sterile human serum albumin labelled with 99mTc is applied 
through irrigation tube into both maxillary sinuses. The cearance of tracer from 
sinuses is measured by gamma camera with intervals of 10 minutes.

There is quite a big range of clearance speed between individuals. The 
clearance of 50% or more should be considered as normal. In a case of chronic 
sinusitis the clearance is usually only 10 % or less in 30 minutes.

Best regards

Markus Rautiainen
Docent, Associate Chief Physician
ENT- Dept.
Tampere Univ. Hospital
Finland
 


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