99m-Tc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy for the evaluation of suspicious palpable and non-palpable breast lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of 99m-Tc-tetrofosmin (tetrofosmin) scintigraphy in patients with palpable and nonpalpable breast lesions.


METHODS
Prospective, blinded trial. One hundred and fifty-nine consecutive patients with 163 breast lesions detected by clinical examination and mammography were included. Tetrofosmin scintigraphy of the breast was performed additionally to the regular diagnostic procedure. Using histologic assessment as the golden standard, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for tetrofosmin scintigraphy of the breast were assessed.


RESULTS
Overall sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 84%. The sensitivity for palpable tumors (65%) was 93% compared to 62% for non-palpable breast lesions. Malignant lesions were nearly twice as big as benign lesions (31.5 mm +/- 2.4 vs. 16.9 mm +/- 2.4). Specificity, positive and negative predictive value (84%, 89%, and 66%) did not differ significantly in palpable versus non-palpable tumors. Of malignant tumors 18% were found false negative by tetrofosmin scintigraphy.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that tetrofosmin scintigraphy is a valuable tool for the evaluation of palpable breast cancer. In patients with non-palpable tumors, tetrofosmin scintigraphy may not add to the work-up of patients with breast cancer due to a low sensitivity rate.
Obwegeser
R
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Vienna, Austria. reinhard.obwegeser@akh-wien.ac.at
Berghammer
P
P
Muellauer-Ertl
S
S
Kubista
E
E
Sinzinger
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010173:Palpation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin