Role of technetium tetrofosmin scintimammography in the diagnosis of malignant breast masses and axillary lymph node involvement: a comparative study with mammography and histopathology.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of Technetium-99m (99mTc) tetrofosmin scintimammography in the detection of breast cancer and involvement of axillary nodes.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
General hospital, Turkey.


METHODS
128 women who presented with masses in the breast.


METHODS
Scintimammography, standard mammography, and either excision or fine-needle aspiration biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.


METHODS
Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of scintimammography compared with mammography.


RESULTS
Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value (%) of 99mTc scintimammography were 95, 96, 97 and 92, respectively. The corresponding figures for standard mammography were 87, 26, 68 and 52. Scintimammography changed the 34 false positive mammograms into true negatives, at the expense of four false negatives. The sensitivity of scintimammography in detecting axillary lymph node metastases was 72% and specificity 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Scintimammography with 99mTc tetrofosmin seems to be of value in the detection of breast malignancy and axillary metastases. It may help to avoid unnecessary operations in patients whose mammograms do not give a definite diagnosis.
Ortapamuk
H
H
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Ankara Numune Hospital, Turkey.
Ozmen
M M
MM
Ibis
S
S
Naldöken
S
S
Aksoy
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin