title: Use of an oral effervescent agent in the evaluation of gastric 67Ga uptake.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gastric uptake of (67)Ga may be observed in patients with no obvious gastric lesions, as well as those with gastric malignancy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of an effervescent agent aids in evaluating gastric (67)Ga uptake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients having or suspected of having gastric uptake on whole-body (67)Ga scintigrams were studied. Anterior abdominal images were obtained at baseline and after the oral intake of the effervescent agent (gas contrast image). The presence or absence of malignant gastric uptake was judged visually using the baseline image or gas contrast image. The judgment was compared with the clinical diagnosis, and the clinical usefulness of the gas contrast technique was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all patients, successful distension of the stomach was indicated in the gas contrast image. Clinical assessment showed gastric lesions in six patients (gastric involvement of lymphoma in 3, primary gastric lymphoma in 2, and adenocarcinoma in 1). The gas contrast image yielded accurate judgments of malignant gastric uptake in all patients except one with adenocarcinoma. Imaging after gastric distension induced by the oral effervescent agent contributed to excluding malignant gastric uptake in eight patients and demonstrating malignant gastric uptake in four patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benign gastric uptake may complicate the assessment of gastric lesions in (67)Ga scintigraphy. Additional spot imaging after oral intake of an effervescent agent can aid in evaluating malignant gastric lesions through gastric distension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nippashi
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Woodhams
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tago
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005708:Gallium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D003287:Contrast Media; D005710:Gallium Radioisotopes; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D005708:Gallium; C103850:gallium citrate