[Usefulness of pulmonary clearance of 99mTc-DTPA in diffuse alveolo-interstitial pulmonary diseases].

: The aim of the present work was dual: to study the pulmonary clearance of 99mTC-DTPA (Cl 99mTc-DTPA) in patients suspected (n = 16) of suffering (n = 42) from diffuse interstitial lung disease (DILD) and to compare the technique with other classic clinical methods. Results showed that pulmonary clearance of Cl 99mTc-DTPA is of little value in patients with DILD who smoke, although in non-smokers the technique serves as a complementary test to other classic methods and detects alterations in epithelial permeability not only in cases of confirmed DILD but also in other cases with suspicion of DILD and normal radiology.