Scintigraphic evaluation of childhood malignancies by 67Ga-citrate.
The utility and limitations of 67Ga scintigraphy in children with solid tumors were evaluated. Thirty-five patients with malignancies (13 lymphoreticular neoplasms, 11 soft-tissue sarcomas, 8 neuroblastomas, and 3 primary bone tumors) had a 67Ga-citrate scan as part of their clinical evaluation. The sensitivity and specificity of the test were analyzed for the different tumor types. The overall sensitivity of the 67Ga-citrate scan for the lymphoma group was 87%. Higher values were obtained for the mediastinal and abdominal regions. Ninety-three per cent of the involved sites were correctly identified by 67Ga scintigraphy in the soft-tissue sarcoma group. Small lung metastases, however, were missed on scan. Thus, 67Ga scans should be complemented with chest radiographs and whole chest tomograms for both initial evaluation and follow-up in those patients. 67Ga had low sensitivity for neuroblastoma.
D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes