Utility and reproducibility of semiquantitative analysis of sestamibi breast images.
Technetium-99m-sestamibi scintimammography has been shown to be a useful diagnostic test in the detection of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was two-fold to: (a) evaluate semiquantitative indices of tracer uptake in lesions and determine if they are helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant breast lesions; and (b) test the reproducibility of these measures of sestamibi uptake in breast images.


METHODS
Prone lateral planar imaging was performed on 27 patients after intravenous injection of 20-30 mCi 99mTc-sestamibi. Data were analyzed by creating three regions of interest (ROIs) over designated areas: lesion, normal breast and right chest wall. Lesion-to-normal (L:N) and lesion-to-chest wall (L:CW) ratios were calculated for each patient. Reproducibility was assessed by having two independent observers draw ROIs (interobserver) and one observer draw two independent sets of ROIs (intraobserver).


RESULTS
L:N and L:CW ratios were significantly different for malignant versus benign lesions (p < 0.001 for both ratios). Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility showed good correlation with r = 0.98 (L:CW ratio).


CONCLUSIONS
Semiquantitative analysis of sestamibi breast imaging results in reproducible uptake ratios that may be helpful in objectively interpreting imaging results.
Dunnwald
L K
LK
Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle 98195, USA.
Hartnett
S D
SD
Mankoff
D A
DA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D016684:Prone Position; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013909:Thorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi