Short communication: venous uptake of 99Tcm-MIBI during resting cardiac imaging: incidence and the effect of using a flush.

99Tcm-methoxy-isobutyl-isonitrile (99Tcm-MIBI) is taken up by the vein through which it is injected in some individuals. We prospectively analysed technical and clinical factors that may be associated with this uptake. Imaging was performed over 1 h after injection so excluding a blood pool effect. The frequency of uptake could be reduced from 25.9% to 4.2% by using a 20 ml saline flush (p < 0.05). Other factors appeared irrelevant. The presence of venous uptake did not affect myocardial counting statistics but, if unrecognized, it could cause confusion in studies of the neck or chest that use 99Tcm-MIBI.