title: Detection of recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas after radiotherapy with technetium-99m tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography and comparison with computed tomography--a preliminary study.
abstract: The effectiveness of technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the head and neck for detecting recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC) was evaluated and compared with computed tomography (CT). Both Tc-TF SPECT and CT of the head and neck were performed in 36 NPC patients 4 months after radiotherapy. All 36 then underwent histopathological examinations of nasopharyngeal biopsies. Based on the histopathological results, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of visually interpreted Tc-TF SPECT images, to differentiation of recurrent NPC from benign lesions, were 64%, 96%, and 86%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CT for detecting recurrent NPC were 73%, 88%, and 83%, respectively. The Tc-TF SPECT has a better specificity but a lower sensitivity to differentiate benign lesions and recurrent/residual NPC when compared with CT. Combined Tc-TF SPECT and CT sensitivity and specificity were 100% and 88%, respectively. There are much better either test alone. However, further studies, including a larger NPC patient population, are warranted to determine the exact role and clinical usefulness of Tc-TF SPECT to differentiate benign lesions and recurrent/residual NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Jaan
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Yu-Chien
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: Jhi-Joung
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yung-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Shung-Tai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chia-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C078700:technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin