Technegas at Last! Implementing Technegas into Clinical Practice in the United States: Considerations, Challenges, and Recommendations.

Abstract

Technegas, ^99mTc-labeled aerosolized carbon nanoparticles, has been used internationally since 1986 for pulmonary ventilation imaging. Unlike traditional gases, Technegas exhibits only a gaslike behavior, allowing deep and uniform deposition in the lungs' subsegmental regions. This hydrophobic property minimizes central airway clumping, as is particularly advantageous for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September 2023, Technegas is now available in the United States for diagnosing pulmonary embolism and broader ventilation and airway evaluations. The Technegas Plus system, which produces the radioaerosol onsite by heating [^99mTc]sodium pertechnetate in a carbon crucible at ultrahigh temperatures, requires a specific infrastructure, including a 220-volt power supply and an argon gas source. Its rapid administration-often requiring only 1-3 breaths-streamlines workflows while ensuring patient comfort, especially for those with respiratory limitations. Additionally, Technegas supports SPECT and SPECT/CT imaging, enabling sensitivity and specificity superior to those of traditional planar methods. Despite the global adoption of ventilation-perfusion SPECT as the standard for pulmonary embolism diagnosis, its use in the United States remains limited. Now that Technegas is available in the United States, U.S. nuclear medicine departments can transition to advanced ventilation imaging, aligning with international best practices. This paper outlines essential considerations for Technegas implementation: infrastructure requirements, staff training, protocol development, and imaging optimization, including clinical experiences and perspectives from the staff at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. By integrating Technegas, departments can enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve workflow efficiency, and expand clinical applications, particularly for patients with complex pulmonary conditions.