European journal of nuclear medicine
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Extravascular lung water (idQw1) is measured in vivo from the difference in mean transit times, computed by extrapolating the dilution curves, of two indicators, one freely diffusible, the other confined to the intravascular space. Using 3H2O it has been shown that idQw1 is smaller than the amount of extravascular water obtained from the difference between wet and dry lung weight (Qw1). Extrapolation allows one to use dilution curves for a short time, i.e., up to onset of obvious recirculation. ⋯ In dogs and men, in both normal and edematous lungs, l(t) exhibits a knee and a fairly long tail. Extravascular lung water computed from l(t), idcQw1, agrees with Qw1 and correlates with data on the extravascular thermal volume of the lung and with radiographic findings of lung edema. A radiographic score of pulmonary edema may be used clinically to assess extravascular lung water in cardiac patients and in patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome.