Gallium-67 scintigraphy in the era of positron emission tomography and computed tomography : tertiary centre experience

Abstract EN

Objectives: Although 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has largely replaced the use of gallium-67 (67Ga) scintigraphy in the evaluation and follow-up of lymphoma patients, 67Ga scans are still of value, particularly in countries where no PET/CT service is available.

The current study presents the experience of a tertiary care centre using 67Ga scintigraphy for the evaluation of lymphomas and infections.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all 67Ga scans performed between 2007 and 2011 at the Royal Hospital in Muscat, Oman.

Images and reports of 67Ga scans were compared to clinical and radiological follow-up data including CT and PET/CT scans and biopsies when available.

Results : A total of 74 patients were referred for 67Ga scintigraphy during this period with 12 patients excluded due to lack of follow-up data, resulting in 62 patients.

Among these patients, 90 67Ga scans were performed, including 59 for lymphoma, 29 for infection and two for sarcoidosis assessment.

Of the infection assessment scans, 22 were performed to assess pyrexia of unknown origin and seven for follow-up after known infections.

Sensitivity and specificity were found to be 80 % and 88 %, respectively, for the lymphoma assessment scans.

For the infection assessment scans, sensitivity and specificity were reported to be 80 % and 100 %, respectively.

Conclusion: Results from this study were consistent with other reported rates of 67Ga scan sensitivity and specificity in the evaluation of lymphomas and infections.

This indicates that 67Ga scintigraphy is a useful tool for these types of evaluations when PET / CT services are not available.