Scintigraphy with 99mTc-phosphonate and 67gallium in patients suspected of primary bone tumors.

Whole-body scintigraphy with both 99mTc-phosphonate and 67Ga was performed on 92 patients suspected of primary bone tumors. In 46 patients with primary malignant bone tumors, scintigraphy with 99mTc-phosphonate disclosed the primary tumor in 44 cases and skeletal metastases in 11, and 67Ga scintigraphy detected the primary tumor in 43 cases, skeletal metastases in 6 cases and soft-tissue metastases in 8 cases. In 25 patients with secondary malignant bone tumors, bone scintigraphy visualized a single lesion in 10 cases and several lesions in 15 cases, and 67Ga scintigraphy detected the primary tumor in 17 cases, skeletal metastases in 17 cases and soft-tissue metastases in 9 cases. In 21 patients with benign bone disease positive uptake of 99mTc-phosphonate was recognized in 19 cases and uptake of 67Ga in 17 cases. It is concluded that bone scintigraphy should be used in patients suspected of primary bone tumors. If malignancy is suspected, 67Ga scintigraphy should be performed in addition.

Bone scintigraphy in children.

Bone scintigraphy with 99mTc-polyphosphate or 99mTc-pyrophosphate was carried out in 54 children suspected of bone disease. Signs of skeletal metastases were recognized in 13 children by scintigraphy whereas X-ray examination showed lesions in only 10 of these. In 5 children with primary osteosarcoma, three cases of fibrous dysplasia, and 4 cases of osteomyelitis, the lesions were clearly demonstrated by scintigraphy. Abnormal accumulation of radioactivity in soft tissue lesions was observed in primary adrenal neuroblastoma, Hodgkin's granuloma, and metastatic Burkitt's lymphoma. Several cases are reported, and the value of bone scintigraphy in children is discussed.

Diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma using 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine.

Neuroblastoma is a lethal and not uncommon tumor in childhood. Early detection and display of the spread of the tumor is highly desirable for proper treatment. Nine children suspected of having neuroblastoma were examined by 131I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) scintigraphy. In two recent studies 123I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-MIBG) was used. A primary adrenal neuroblastoma was correctly identified in 3 cases. In 2 patients additional tumor sites were found. In one patient, who was in complete remission, no pathological accumulation of 131I-MIBG was found. 131I-MIBG scintigraphies were also normal in 4 patients with other types of tumor. In one girl with a large adrenal neuroblastoma high uptake of 131I-MIBG was observed. She received two therapy doses of 131I-MIBG (1300-2800 MBq) with curative intention giving a total absorbed dose in the tumor of approximately 90 Gy. In spite of high retention of radioactivity in the tumor, regression did not appear, but her general condition was improved. In the present study images of superior quality were obtained by 123I-MIBG scintigraphy. It is concluded that scintigraphy with 131I- or 123I-MIBG should be used for primary visualization and control of neuroblastomas.

57Co-bleomycin scintigraphy for the preoperative detection and staging of lung tumors.

Twenty-five consecutive patients with lung tumors were classified according to the presence of metastases by the use of 57Co-Bleomycin scintigraphy. Twenty-two of the tumors were visualized but metastatic spread to hilar lymph nodes was not detected. Reliable separation of central tumors with and without growth into neighbouring organs was not possible. Mediastinal uptake was found in eight cases but only a part of these could be verified by operation. The method can contribute to the evaluation of lung tumors and can be helpful to avoid some unnecessary thoracotomies.

Ga-67 imaging in pediatric oncology.

One hundred sixty-nine children suspected of having malignant disease were examined by Ga-67 scintigraphy. In 99 children with untreated diseases at the time of examination, abnormal accumulation of Ga-67 was found in 51 patients, including 40 with malignant tumor. Forty-three negative results were obtained in children with benign disorders. Five false-negative results were obtained in patients with neuroblastoma of the adrenal gland. In 70 children with malignant diseases treated before the examination, abnormal accumulation of Ga-67 was seen in 40 patients, including 38 with malignant disease and two with no clinical evidence of recurrence. Normal results were obtained in 30 patients, including 11 still suffering from malignant disease. The results of Ga-67 scintigraphy in all of the children were evaluated qualitatively. For the final diagnosis of malignant disease, diagnostic specificity was 86% and diagnostic sensitivity 79%. The prevalence of malignant disease was 56%. It is concluded that Ga-67 scintigraphy should be used for primary visualization and control of malignant tumors in children.

Observations on the sequential use of Tc-99m phosphonate and Ga-67 imaging in untreated primary and secondary malignant tumors of the head and neck.

Scintigraphy using both Tc-99m phosphonate and Ga-67 was performed in 55 cases of untreated primary and secondary tumors of the head and neck. In 21 patients with primary tumors of jaws, eye, tongue, or parotid gland, Ga-67 scintigraphy visualized the primary tumor in all cases and metastases in 12. Scintigraphy using Tc-99m phosphonate disclosed primary bone involvement in 12 cases and skeletal metastases in two. In eight of 13 patients with metastatic lesions of jaws and skull, bone scintigraphy showed skeletal metastases. In seven of these patients, Ga-67 scintigraphy detected the primary tumor and in 11 cases detected metastases. Bone scintigraphy disclosed skeletal metastases in six of 21 patients with malignant neck tumors. In 13 of these patients, Ga-67 scintigraphy visualized the primary tumor, whereas it showed metastases in seven. It is concluded that Ga-67 scintigraphy should be used in the investigation of untreated primary or secondary malignant tumors of the head and neck. Bone scintigraphy may be indicated as an additional study in selected cases only.

Diagnosis and treatment of neuroblastoma using metaiodobenzylguanidine.

Neuroblastoma is a lethal and not uncommon tumor in childhood. Early detection and display of the spread of the tumor is highly desirable for proper treatment. Nine children suspected of having neuroblastomas were examined by I-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-131 MIBG) imaging. In two recent studies I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-123 MIBG) was used. A primary adrenal neuroblastoma was correctly identified in three cases. In two patients additional tumor sites were found. In one patient, who was in complete remission, no pathologic accumulation of I-131 MIBG was found. I-131 MIBG images were also normal in four patients with other types of neoplastic diseases. A boy with multiple metastases was treated with 100 mCi of I-131 MIBG. He developed transient gastrointestinal illness and there was no regression of the tumor deposits. In one girl with a large adrenal neuroblastoma high uptake of I-131 MIBG was observed. She received two therapy doses of I-131 MIBG (35 mCi and 75 mCi) with curative intention giving a total absorbed dose in the tumor of approximately 76 Gy. In spite of high retention of radioactivity in the tumor, regression did not occur, but her general condition was improved. In the present study, images of superior quality were obtained with I-123 MIBG imaging. It is concluded that imaging using I-131 MIBG or I-123 MIBG should be used in both the initial evaluation and the follow-up of children with neuroblastoma.