Furosemide administration onehour before bone scintigraphy examination in horses does not improve the image quality or reduce the radiation dose rate

This prospective, cross‐sectional, pilot study aimed to investigate the effects of furosemide as a diuretic on the image quality of bone scintigraphy performed using ^99mTc‐HDP and to investigate the impact of furosemide on the radiation dose rate. Thirty‐one horses undergoing bone scintigraphy were included. The horses were divided into the control (n = 14) and furosemide group (n = 17), which received 1 mg/kg furosemide intravenously 1 h post ^99mTc‐HDP administration. The image quality was assessed subjectively and semi‐quantitatively. The bone‐to‐soft tissue (B:S) ratio was calculated from the counts per pixel of regions of interest (ROI) positioned over the left radial diaphysis (bone ROI) and its caudal soft tissue area (soft tissue ROI). The radiation rate dose (μSv/h) of both groups was measured at 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h post ^99mTc‐HDP administration at a distance of 0, 30, and 100 cm from the head, kidney, and pelvis. The results showed no significant differences in the B:S ratio or the radiation dose rate observed between the groups. However, the radiation dose rate decreased by 56% at 3 h post ^99mTc‐HDP administration and keeping a distance of 30 cm reduced the radiation dose rate by 65%. Administering furosemide does not improve the image quality or reduce the radiation dose rate. The authors recommend commencing with bone scintigraphy 3 h post ^99mTc‐HDP administration and keeping at least a distance of 30 cm from the horse to reduce the staff radiation dose.