Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy for the early detection of radiation pneumonitis.
To evaluate the usefulness of Ga-67 citrate scintigraphy in the early detection of radiation pneumonitis, scintigrams from 103 patients who were treated with radiation therapy for lung cancer were retrospectively analyzed with regard to abnormal Ga-67 uptake after radiation therapy in sites other than the original or recurrent tumors. Sixteen (20%) of the 80 asymptomatic cases showed positive Ga-67 scintigrams. All of the other 23 symptomatic cases showed positive Ga-67 scintigrams. Thirteen (57%) of these 23 cases had negative chest radiographs although their Ga-67 scintigrams were positive. Detection of radiation pneumonitis by Ga-67 scintigraphy was significantly earlier than that possible by chest radiography (P less than 0.01). These data suggest that Ga-67 scintigraphy is more useful and sensitive than chest radiography for the early detection of radiation pneumonitis.
Kataoka
M
M
Department of Radiology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.
Kawamura
M
M
Itoh
H
H
Hamamoto
K
K
D000368:Aged; D002951:Citrates; D019343:Citric Acid; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D002951:Citrates; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D019343:Citric Acid; D005708:Gallium