Abstract | BACKGROUND: METHODS: A 99mTC-tetrofosmin scan was incorporated into the pretreatment and posttreatment diagnostic workup of all lung carcinoma patients seen in a second referral institution for a province of 500,000 inhabitants during the years 1998 and 1999. Sixty-one patients, strongly suspected of lung carcinoma were photon-scanned; 21 of them were rescanned after completion of their front-line treatment. Eleven patients eventually underwent surgery, and 3 others underwent mediastinoscopy. Both planar and single photoemission computed tomography thoracic views were obtained. Images for the whole body also were acquired. RESULTS: All 57 patients whose lung carcinoma was pathologically confirmed showed accumulation of the radiotracer (100% sensitivity). However, three of the four nonmalignant lesions were also 99mTC-tetrofosmin positive. 99mTC-tetrofosmin scan was highly sensitive for the detection of the T0-T2 disease (97% sensitivity) and highly specific for the N0-N1 disease (83% specificity). In the 16 pathologically staged mediastina, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rates were 73%, 100%, and 81%, respectively. 99mTC-tetrofosmin scan correctly detected most skeleton (9 of 10) and brain (5 of 7) metastases. The treatment response evaluation made with 99mTC-tetrofosmin corresponded to the clinical estimate in almost half of the sample. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that 99mTC-tetrofosmin scan is a relatively accurate method for lung carcinoma evaluation. The authors' preliminary data exclude, however, that noninvasive diagnostic efficiency might be substantially increased by a scintigraphy with 99mTC-tetrofosmin. More studies are needed for a better understanding of the real value of this technique.
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Authors | Gianfranco Buccheri, Alberto Biggi, Domenico Ferrigno, Antonella Francini |
Journal | Cancer
(Cancer)
Vol. 94
Issue 6
Pg. 1796-807
(Mar 15 2002)
ISSN: 0008-543X [Print] United States |
PMID | 11920543
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright 2002 American Cancer Society. |
Chemical References |
- Organophosphorus Compounds
- Organotechnetium Compounds
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Humans
- Lung Neoplasms
(diagnostic imaging, pathology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Metastasis
(diagnosis)
- Organophosphorus Compounds
- Organotechnetium Compounds
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Reproducibility of Results
- Sensitivity and Specificity
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