99mTc depreotide scan compared with 99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy for the detection of bone metastases and prediction of response to hormonal treatment in patients with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine the potential role of Tc depreotide scintigraphy for the evaluation of bone metastases compared with Tc methylenediphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy and for the prediction of treatment response in breast cancer patients in whom first- or second-line hormonal therapy was to be initiated.


METHODS
Twelve patients with a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer were included. All patients underwent both a bone scan and a depreotide scan and at least one other conventional imaging procedure, including plain film radiography (n=11), computed tomography (n=6) or magnetic resonance imaging (n=5), for confirmation of metastatic disease. The mean time interval between the bone scan and the depreotide scan was 30.6 days. Follow-up data were retrieved from routine clinical evaluation by means of physical examination, imaging and blood analysis.


RESULTS
On a patient basis we found a sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of, respectively 100%, 50% and 83.3% for the bone scan and 62.5%, 100% and 75% for the depreotide scan in the diagnosis of bone metastasis. In eight patients with available follow-up data two with a positive depreotide scan remained stable and five of six patients with a negative depreotide scan had progressive disease.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small series of breast cancer patients Tc depreotide scintigraphy proves less sensitive but more specific as compared to Tc-MDP bone scintigraphy in measuring the extent of bone metastasis. On the other hand Tc depreotide scintigraphy elucidates, non-invasively, tumour characteristics and may be indicative for prognosis and response to hormonal treatment.
Van Den Bossche
Bieke
B
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium. bieke.vandenbossche@ugent.be
D'haeninck
Eveline
E
De Winter
Frederic
F
Van Belle
Simon
S
Dierckx
Rudi A
RA
Van De Wiele
Christophe
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D006728:Hormones; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013004:Somatostatin; C444119:technetium Tc 99m depreotide; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate