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Tc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG) is a new renal radiopharmaceutical which has been shown to have biological properties similar toI-hippurate (OIH) in animals and volunteers.Tc-MAG has now been compared withI-orthoiodohippurate (OIH) in a group of patients with varying degrees of renal impairment. In all cases, theTc-MAG images were superior regardless of serum creatinine. Selected examples are illustrated including scans and renogram curves in a normal volunteer, transplant patients with creatinines of 9.8 mg/dl and 2.6 mg/dl respectively, and a furosemide study in a patient with questionable obstruction. Our preliminary results suggest thatTc-MAG performs well in patients with impaired renal function and may well provide an acceptable replacement for OIH. A kit formulation has been developed and will soon be undergoing clinical evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at how radiologists provide and contribute to nuclear medicine services in the U.S. According to the article, there is a greater diversity in the training backgrounds of nuclear medicine physicians in the U.S. than in Europe. The article discusses radionuclides, radioisotopes in research, and internal medicine.