title: An evaluation of the uptake of technetium-99m (v) dimercaptosuccinic acid in patients with squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: A new imaging agent, Technetium-99m (Tc99m) (v) Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), has recently been developed which has been used to evaluate head and neck tumours. Twenty-four patients were studied of whom 21 had histologically proven SCC of the head and neck. The remaining 3 had benign lesions. Planar imaging of patients with primary disease revealed a sensitivity of 83% and a 75% specificity. The results of planar imaging of patients with cervical metastases yielded a 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Seven patients also had single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) which improved the image quality, spatial resolution and sensitivity of the investigation. Tc99m (v) DMSA imaging provides a cheap and rapid means of investigating head and neck SCC. This study suggests further work is indicated to assess its role in diagnosis and subsequent management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Guy's Hospital, London.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Watkinson
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Shaheen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004113:Succimer / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013667:Technetium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D013667:Technetium; D004113:Succimer