title: Comparative evaluation of technetium-99m glucoheptonate and gallium-67 citrate thoracic imaging in detection of mediastinal and hilar involvement in primary lung cancer.
abstract: Fifty-two patients with proven primary lung cancer who were referred for mediastinoscopy were prospectively studied with Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Ga-67 citrate thoracic scintigraphy. Primary lung tumors concentrated Ga-67 in 92% of cases, compared to 88% for Tc-99m glucoheptonate. Mediastinoscopy confirmed the presence of mediastinal metastases in 23 patients. The sensitivity of Tc-99m glucoheptonate and Ga-67 scans for mediastinal involvement detection is respectively 52% and 83%, for a specificity of 100% (Tc-99m glucoheptonate) and 88% (Ga-67). Twenty-nine patients underwent thoracotomy after a negative mediastinoscopy. Hilar metastatic involvement was present in eight patients. The sensitivity and the specificity for detection of hilar involvement were respectively 63% and 95% for Tc-99m glucoheptonate and 88% and 78% for Ga-67. Although more specific than Ga-67 scan, Tc-99m glucoheptonate thoracic imaging cannot be recommended in the staging of lung cancer because of its low sensitivity in the detection of intrathoracic metastatic spread of primary lung carcinoma.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taillefer
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Léveillé
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013400:Sugar Acids; D013667:Technetium; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013400:Sugar Acids; D013667:Technetium; C100014:technetium Tc 99m gluceptate