Radiometric detection of venous function and disease

Relative changes in blood volumes of the calf muscles have been measured by monitoring the radioactivity of the calf region of each leg after labeling the blood pool with a radioisotope. Measurements were made during position changes and exercise. Relative volume changes and the rates of these changes were measured in 19 normal volunteers. These provided normal parameters of venous physiology. The means and standard deviations for the values are reported as well as the maximum differences observed between the two normal legs. The techniques then were applied to 65 patients. Specific abnormal patterns in various diseases were detected and the pathologic condition could be diagnosed by this noninvasive method.