Lacrimal gland uptake of gallium (67Ga) citrate in patients without ocular pathology.
OBJECTIVE
To report a series of patients with bilateral lacrimal gland uptake of Gallium (67Ga) Citrate in patients without ocular pathology and to assess the degree to which this can be a normal phenomenon.


METHODS
We present an index case of lacrimal gland uptake of Gallium (67Ga) Citrate in a patient without lacrimal pathology and a subsequent retrospective review of all Gallium scans performed at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, UK from 2002 to 2008. Patients who demonstrated Ga67 uptake within the lacrimal glands were identified and case notes from all scans were retrieved and reviewed. The notes were analysed to determine the rationale for the gallium investigation as well as whether there was any preexisting ocular pathology.


RESULTS
Retrospective review demonstrated that 21 gallium scans were performed from 2002 to 2008, from which 4 patients demonstrated bilateral lacrimal gland Ga67 uptake with no evidence of past or current lacrimal/ocular pathology. On the basis of our review, we report that bilateral gallium uptake is not a specific finding, occurring in normal individuals with no history or symptoms of ocular or orbital pathology.
Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, Sussex, UK.
A H
AH
Ross
H M
HM
Herbert
J
J
Kabala
R
R
Malhotra
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D019343:Citric Acid; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D007766:Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006113:United Kingdom
D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D019343:Citric Acid