Using thallium-201 SPECT to detect recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy in patients with indeterminate CT findings.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of thallium-201 (Tl-201) single-photon emission CT (SPECT) to detect recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) when CT findings are indeterminate.


METHODS
After radiotherapy, 30 NPC patients with indeterminate CT findings were included. CT, Tl-201, and biopsy were performed at least 4 months after radiotherapy and within 1 week of each other. The final results were based on histopathologic findings and clinical follow-up after at least 6 months.


RESULTS
The rates for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of Tl-201 SPECT in detecting recurrent or residual NPC when there were indeterminate CT findings, were 86.7%, 93.3%, and 90.0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Tl-201 SPECT is effective in detecting recurrent or residual NPC when CT findings are indeterminate.
Shiau
Yu-Chien
YC
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial, Taichung, Taiwan.
Liu
Feng-Yuan
FY
Huang
Wen-Sheng
WS
Yen
Ruoh-Fang
RF
Kao
Chia-Hung
CH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes