title: Gallium 67 imaging in monitoring lymphoma response to treatment.
abstract: The value of gallium 67 (Ga) imaging in monitoring lymphoma response to treatment was assessed in 25 patients with Ga-avid tumors and compared to body computed tomography (CT), chest radiographs, and palpation of tumor infiltrated peripheral lymph nodes. Ga imaging was negative in 95% (20/21) of the patients who were clinically considered to be in remission and in whom treatment was stopped. The disease did not recur during a follow-up of 12 to 26 months in 15 patients. Six patients developed recurrence of the disease 3 to 12 months after treatment was stopped. In all six patients Ga imaging became positive again at the time of the appearance of active disease. In the group of patients in remission, CT was negative in 57% (11/19), chest x-rays in 55% (6/11) and peripheral lymph nodes were palpated in none of the patients (13/13). In four patients that did not achieve remission after treatment, Ga scans were positive. Ga imaging appears useful in monitoring lymphoma response to treatment. This is probably because Ga imaging monitors tumor cell viability, whereas body CT and chest radiographs show the tumor mass, which may consist of fibrotic or necrotic tissue.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Israel
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Front
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lam
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ben-Haim
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Kleinhaus
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ben-Shachar
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Robinson
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Kolodny
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D010173:Palpation; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes