- Identify artifact: Identify study as TcO4 scan. Linear high intensity uptake in the cervical region only seen on the left lateral view and disappears on the opposite lateral. The uptake is anatomically within the plane of the esophagus.
- Cause: Gastroesophageal reflux. TcO4 is treated as chloride and excreted into the gastric lumen following injection.
- Prevention: No prevention. Rescan if necessary.
- The question was worth a total of 6 points. The average score was 2.89/6.0 or 48%. Most candidates were able to identify the type of nuclear scan. Many candidates believed the uptake represented a mass. Many candidates that were able to determine it was TcO4 within the esophagus, could not explain how it might arrive there.