Use of scintillation camera and 135Xenon for study of topographic pulmonary function

A technique has been described which allows a quantitative, topographic evaluation of ventilation and perfusion distribution in the human lung, using the Anger scintillation camera to detect the distribution of the radioactive isotope, 135Xenon. The data obtained from four normal right and left lungs in seated, resting subjects, confirms the large (three to fourfold) apex to base perfusion gradient and the smaller (30%) ventilation gradient previously described by several authors. No significant horizontal gradient of either ventilation or perfusion could be detected.