What is the typical particle number of MAA administered for patients with hypertension or right-to-left shunt?

The typical particle number of Macroaggregated Albumin (MAA) administered to patients, especially those with conditions like hypertension or right-to-left shunts, generally falls within the range of 100,000 to 200,000 particles. This specific particle number is crucial because it optimizes the effective distribution of the radiopharmaceutical while minimizing the risk of complications such as pulmonary embolism in these patients.

MAA is used in nuclear medicine for lung perfusion studies, and in patients with a right-to-left shunt, the proper particle count ensures that MAA can effectively target the lung's periphery without being overly distributed to the systemic circulation, which could potentially lead to adverse effects.

The context of particle number is important because administering a count outside of this typical range—either too low or too high—could impair the diagnostic efficacy of the imaging study or induce unnecessary risk to the patient. Therefore, understanding this proper particle count assists healthcare professionals in making sound clinical decisions.