Evaluation of pentavalent Tc-99m DMSA scintigraphy in small cell and nonsmall cell lung cancers.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of Tc-99m (V) DMSA in patients suspected of lung cancer and determine whether this agent may have value in differentiation between small cell (SCLC) and non-small cell (NSCLC) lung carcinoma.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with clinical and radiological suspicion of primary lung carcinoma were injected 450-600 MBq of Tc-99m (V) DMSA intravenously. Whole body and planar anterior, posterior thorax images were obtained 4-5 h after injection of the radioactive complex.


RESULTS
Histopathological results confirmed 23 NSCLC, 10 SCLC and 1 metastatic lung carcinoma and 2 lung abscess. Nineteen of the 23 (82%) NSCLC and all of the 10 (100%) SCLC cases showed Tc-99m (V) DMSA uptake. Single metastatic lung cancer also accumulated radiotracer. Lung abscess did not show uptake. Lesion/Nonlesion (L/N) ratio of SCLC (1.59 +/- 0.32) and NSCLC (1.43 +/- 0.19) tumour types did not show statistical difference (p > 0.05). Tc-99m (V) DMSA whole body imaging also showed bone metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Tc-99m (V) DMSA is a noninvasive and cheap imaging method to detect malignant lung cancers and their bone metastases but, differentiation of SCLC and NSCLC is not possible.
Atasever
T
T
Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Nuclear Medicine Department, Ankara, Turkey.
Gündoğdu
C
C
Vural
G
G
Kapucu
L O
LO
Karalezli
A
A
Unlü
M
M
D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate