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/sup 67/Ga scanning for carcinoma of the lung

Journal Article · · J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7312680

Gallium-67 citrate scanning was prospectively evaluated in 55 patients who had lung lesions suspected to be primary carcinoma on chest x-ray films and in whom subsequent histologic diagnosis was obtained. Of 47 patients with histologically proved carcinoma of the lung, 44 (94 percent) had a positive 67 Ga scan. No patient with a positive scan had a benign lesion, so that the positive scan accuracy rate was 100 percent. All 8 patients with a benign lesion and 3 patients with a malignant lesion had negative scans, for a negative scan accuracy rate of 72 percent for benign lesions. These results give statistical validity for the usefulness of the 67 Ga scan in diagnosing carcinoma of the lung (p less than 0.001). Tumor cell type had little effect on the sensitivity of 67 Ga scan. The 67 Ga scan was equally useful in the evaluation of peripheral and central lesions. There was little difference amount T1, T2, and T3 classified lesions in their ability to take up 67 Ga. The 67 Ga scan was competitive with mediastinoscopy in assessing mediastinal lymph node metastases and provides a noninvasive method of assessing hilar lymph node metastases. There was a good correlation between the clinical staging of patients with lung cancer based on a chest x-ray film and 67 Ga scanning and the staging after surgical treatment based on the histology of the resected specimens.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Chicago
OSTI ID:
7312680
Journal Information:
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.; (United States) Vol. 72:5; ISSN JTCSA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English