Renal allograft accumulation of Tc-99m sulfur colloid: temporal quantitation and scintigraphic assessment.

Renal allograft accumulation of Tc-99m sulfur colloid (TSC) was studied using visual assessment of scintigraphic displays and a quantitative temporal model in 210 examinations of 56 transplant recipients. The quantitative temporal model related the immediate pool of the radioagent in the transplant to the fixed allograft accumulation of TSC at 20 minutes after administration. Examinations performed less than 3 days after grafting or steroid pulse therapy were excluded. Rejection was established by clinical and biochemical evaluation in all 84 examinations that showed acute or chronic allograft rejection. Rejection was accurately diagnosed by visual scintigraphic assessment in 82% of the established cases; this improved to 99% with relative temporal quantitation analysis. Sensitivity improved from 78% by visual examination to 95% with temporal quantitation and specificity improved from 83% to 100%.