title: The role of 99m Tc-sestamibi scintimammography and colour Doppler ultrasonography in the evaluation of breast lesions.
abstract: In the present study we evaluated comparatively the diagnostic value of mammography, of 99mTc-sestamibi scintimammography (sestamibi-SC) and of colour Doppler ultrasonography (CD-US) in 116 breast lesions. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination. Overall, out of 86 malignant tumours, 80 (93%) and 75 (87%) had a positive sestamibi-SC and positive CD-US, respectively. Out of 30 benign lesions, 25 (83%) and 26 (87%) had a negative sestamibi-SC and negative CD-US respectively. The true positive results were similar in palpable and in non-palpable lesions for both methods. Out of 19 non-palpable malignant tumours, mammography confirmed malignancy in only one case (5%), which was significantly lower than the results obtained by sestamibi-SC (89%; Px0.0001) and by CD-US (74%; P=0.0001). In palpable malignant tumours, by using mamography, true positive results were obtained in 54/67 (80.5%) patients, which was significantly lower than the results obtained by sestamibi-SC (94%; P=0.03) and marginally different to the results obtained by CD-US (91%; P=0.13). It is concluded that sestamibi-SC and CD-US are useful tools in clarifying the nature of breast lesions in cases with doubtful mammography. The clinical value of these diagnostic procedures in guiding subsequent therapeutic interventions requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Iraklion, Crete, Greece. targ@her.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koukouraki
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Koukourakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vagios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velidaki
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsiftsis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karkavitsas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi