Comparison of thallium-201 and gallium-67 scintigraphy in the evaluation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
Gallium-67 (Ga-67) is widely used in the assessment of patients with lymphoma. Although highly sensitive in Hodgkin's disease and high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), its sensitivity is reported to be reduced in lower grades of NHL. Several series have suggested that thallium-201 (Tl-201) may be more useful than Ga-67 in the evaluation of low and possibly intermediate grade NHL.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the sensitivity and relative avidities (uptakes) of Tl-201 and Ga-67 in patients with NHL.


METHODS
A total of 36 pairs of studies were performed in 33 patients (14 male: 19 female; age range 16-84 years, mean 55 years). All had whole body Ga-67 (400 MBq) and Tl-201 (100-200 MBq) studies (interval 0-three days) which were read by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians blinded to clinical history and results of other investigations.


RESULTS
Tl-201 had a higher sensitivity and avidity than Ga-67 in patients with low grade NHL. In contrast, Ga-67 was slightly more sensitive and had a higher avidity in patients with both intermediate and high grade NHL.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that Tl-201 is more sensitive and avid for low grade NHL than Ga-67 and that consideration should be given to its use in this condition in conjunction with Ga-67 as it may provide complementary information. Routine use in intermediate grade NHL is less convincing as Ga-67 was superior in most cases. Ga-67 is more sensitive than Tl-201 in assessment of high grade NHL.
Roach
P J
PJ
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW.
Cooper
R A
RA
Arthur
C K
CK
Ravich
R B
RB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes