title: Radionuclide scans in staging of carcinoma of the lung.
abstract: Radionuclide scans are relatively accurate, non-invasive, diagnostic tools when used in patients with carcinoma of the lung with clinically suspected metastases. Their role as a screening or staging procedure in patients without signs or symptoms of metastases is less clear. Brain scans in asymptomatic patients have a low yield. Liver scans done in the absence of hepatomegaly or elevated liver function tests show a high per cent of false-negative and negative results. Bone scans appear to be of considerable value in patients with or without clinical evidence of metastases, in spite of limitations imposed by frequent false-positive results.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging