Inhalation lung imaging with radioactive aerosols and gases

Lung imaging procedures, performed after the inhalation of /sup 99m/Tc labeled aerosols, /sup 133/Xe and /sup 81m/Kr gases, were used to visualize the sites of airway obstruction and regional abnormalities of ventilatory function in normal volunteers, patients with obstructive airway disease, and pulmonary embolism suspects. Comparisons were made of three methods regarding their functional significance, diagnostic merits, and limitations. A new nebulizer-radioaerosol delivery system is described.