Measurement of total body chlorine by prompt gamma in vivo neutron activation analysis. 1987

A H Beddoe, and S J Streat, and G L Hill

A method of measuring total body chlorine (TBCl) by prompt gamma in vivo neutron activation analysis is described which depends on the same NaI(Tl) spectra used for determinations of total body nitrogen. From these spectra counts ratios of chlorine to hydrogen are derived and TBCl is determined using a model of body composition which depends on measured body weight, total body water (by tritium dilution) and protein (6.25 X nitrogen) as well as estimated body minerals and glycogen. The precision of the method based on scanning an anthropomorphic phantom is at present only approximately 9% (SD), for a patient dose equivalent of less than 0.30 mSv. Spectra collected from 67 normal volunteers (32 male, 35 female) yielded mean values of TBCl of 72 +/- 19 (SD) g in males and 53.6 +/- 15 g in females, in broad agreement with values reported by workers using delayed gamma methods. Results are also presented for two human cadavers analysed both by neutron activation and by conventional chemical analysis; the ratios of TBCl (neutron activation) to TBCl (chemical) were 0.980 +/- 0.028 (SEM) and 0.91 +/- 0.09. Finally, it is suggested that an improvement in precision will be achieved by increasing the scanning time (thereby increasing the radiation dose equivalent) and by adding two more detectors.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009501 Neutron Activation Analysis Activation analysis in which the specimen is bombarded with neutrons. Identification is made by measuring the resulting radioisotopes. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Activation Analysis, Neutron,Analysis, Neutron Activation,Activation Analyses, Neutron,Analyses, Neutron Activation,Neutron Activation Analyses
D009584 Nitrogen An element with the atomic symbol N, atomic number 7, and atomic weight [14.00643; 14.00728]. Nitrogen exists as a diatomic gas and makes up about 78% of the earth's atmosphere by volume. It is a constituent of proteins and nucleic acids and found in all living cells.
D012016 Reference Values The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality. Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D001823 Body Composition The relative amounts of various components in the body, such as percentage of body fat. Body Compositions,Composition, Body,Compositions, Body
D001834 Body Water Fluids composed mainly of water found within the body. Water, Body
D001835 Body Weight The mass or quantity of heaviness of an individual. It is expressed by units of pounds or kilograms. Body Weights,Weight, Body,Weights, Body
D002102 Cadaver A dead body, usually a human body. Corpse,Cadavers,Corpses
D002713 Chlorine An element with atomic symbol Cl, atomic number 17, and atomic weight 35, and member of the halogen family. Chlorine Gas,Chlorine-35,Cl2 Gas,Chlorine 35,Gas, Chlorine,Gas, Cl2
D005720 Gamma Rays Penetrating, high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from atomic nuclei during NUCLEAR DECAY. The range of wavelengths of emitted radiation is between 0.1 - 100 pm which overlaps the shorter, more energetic hard X-RAYS wavelengths. The distinction between gamma rays and X-rays is based on their radiation source. Gamma Wave,Gamma Radiation,Nuclear X-Rays,Radiation, Gamma,X-Rays, Nuclear,Gamma Radiations,Gamma Ray,Gamma Waves,Nuclear X Rays,Nuclear X-Ray,Ray, Gamma,Wave, Gamma,Waves, Gamma,X Rays, Nuclear,X-Ray, Nuclear
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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