Evaluation of the mediastinum by gallium-67 scintigraphy in lung cancer

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6761067

Fosburg, R G; Hopkins, G B; Kan, M K

Delineation of the metastatic spread of lung cancer has been attempted by a variety of means. Controversy as to the indications for organ surveys, mediastinoscopy, scintillation scanning, and biopsy techniques still exists. Since definition of the micrometastatic state is yet unachieved, the staging of disease for therapy continues to be predicted on documented spread beyond the site of the origin. The records of 75 patients in whom the presence or absence of mediastinal metastases was known were retrospectively reviewed to establish the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and accuracy of /sup 67/Ga scintigrams. Comparisons were made with chest roentgenograms, mediastinal tomograms, and endoscopic findings. Five patients had /sup 67/Ga-negative studies. In the 70 patients having /sup 67/Ga-positive lung lesions, mediastinal /sup 67/Ga uptake had a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 86%, predictive values of 93% for a positive test and 76% for a negative test, and a test accuracy of 87%. These studies, plus those of others, permit selectivity of choosing candidates for mediastinoscopy. If the primary is /sup 67/Ga positive, a negative mediastinal scan obviates mediastinoscopy. If the mediastinum is /sup 67/Ga positive, mediastinal exploration is indicated. The level of involvement dictates whether resection is undertaken in suitable surgical candidates. This approach, employed since 1976, has lowered the costs of staging, and /sup 67/Ga has become our scintigram of choice.

• Research Organization: Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, CA
• OSTI ID: 6761067
• Journal Information: J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States) Vol. 77:1; ISSN JTCSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550601* -- Medicine-- Unsealed Radionuclides in Diagnostics
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ACCURACY
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BODY
BODY AREAS
CARCINOMAS
CHEST
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
ELECTRON CAPTURE RADIOISOTOPES
GALLIUM 67
GALLIUM ISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LUNGS
MEDIASTINUM
MEDICINE
METASTASES
NEOPLASMS
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPE SCANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SCINTISCANNING
TOMOGRAPHY