Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy in cutaneous malignant lymphomas.
BACKGROUND
Lymphoid cells may express somatostatin receptors (SS-Rs) on their cell surface. Therefore radiolabeled somatostatin analogues may be used to visualize SS-R-positive lymphoid neoplasms in vivo. Exact staging is the basis for treatment decisions in cutaneous malignant lymphoma. We considered the possibility that SS-R scintigraphy might offer a clinically useful method of diagnostic imaging in patients with cutaneous malignant lymphoma.


OBJECTIVE
We evaluated SS-R scintigraphy in comparison with conventional staging methods in the staging of cutaneous malignant lymphoma.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study in 14 consecutive patients with histologically proven cutaneous malignant lymphoma. SS-R scintigraphy was compared with physical, radiologic, and bone marrow examinations. Lymph node excisions were performed in patients with palpable lymph nodes.


RESULTS
SS-R scintigraphy was positive in the lymph nodes in all four patients with malignant lymph node infiltration and negative in the three patients with dermatopathic lymphadenopathy. In two patients, previously unsuspected lymphoma localizations were visualized by SS-R scintigraphy. In only three patients all skin lesions were visualized by SS-R scintigraphy; these three patients had not been treated with topical corticosteroids. SS-R scintigraphy failed to detect an adrenal mass in one patient and bone marrow infiltration in two patients.


CONCLUSIONS
SS-R scintigraphy may help distinguish dermatopathic lymphadenopathy from malignant lymph node infiltration in patients with cutaneous malignant lymphoma.
van den Anker-Lugtenburg
P J
PJ
Department of Hematology, University Hospital Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Heule
F
F
Vanhagen
P M
PM
van Joost
T
T
Oei
H Y
HY
Löwenberg
B
B
Krenning
E P
EP
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015282:Octreotide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013725:Terbium; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin; D013725:Terbium; C071632:SDZ 215-811; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D015282:Octreotide