title: Limitations of Gallium-67 SPECT in histological transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: an analysis of 13 patients with clinically suspected Richter's syndrome.
abstract: Gallium-67 single photon emission computerized tomography (Ga-67 SPECT) was performed in 13 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients suspected of evolution into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) or Richter's syndrome (RS). Six positive and nine negative Ga-67 SPECTs were observed. Ten patients were biopsied (five in each group). DLCL was not detected in any Ga-67-positive patient, including those in whom Ga-67-positive areas were biopsied. The only case of DLCL was demonstrated in a Ga-67-negative patient. The tumoral proliferative index (Ki67 antigen expression) was moderate and similar in both groups of patients. These results illustrate the limitations of Ga-67 SPECT in identifying RS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Postgraduate School of Haematology Farreras-Valentí, Institute of Haematology and Oncology, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosiñol
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nadal
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bosch
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javier Setoain
authors.forename: Elías
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Emili
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montserrat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
chemical_list: D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes