RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Somatostatin Receptor Scintigraphy in the Initial Staging of Low-Grade Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 222
OP 229
VO 42
IS 2
A1 Lugtenburg, Pieternella J.
A1 Löwenberg, Bob
A1 Valkema, Roelf
A1 Oei, Hong-Yoe
A1 Lamberts, Steven W.
A1 Eijkemans, Marinus J.
A1 van Putten, Wim L.
A1 Krenning, Eric P.
YR 2001
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/42/2/222.abstract
AB In this prospective study, somatostatin receptor (SS-R) scintigraphy was compared with conventional staging procedures for the initial staging of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Methods: Fifty consecutive untreated patients with low-grade NHL underwent SS-R scintigraphy as part of their initial staging. Planar images were obtained 24 and 48 h after intravenous injection of 220 MBq 111In-pentetreotide. SPECT images of the upper abdomen were obtained from all patients. SS-R scans were evaluated blindly without knowledge of the results of the conventional staging methods. SS-R scintigraphy findings were compared with the results of physical and radiologic examinations. Results: SS-R scintigraphy findings were positive in 42 of 50 patients (84%). In 10 patients (20%), the SS-R scan revealed new lesions that had not been revealed by conventional staging procedures. These 10 patients were all upgraded to a higher stage. Consequently, the treatment plan would have been altered in 5 patients (10%). However, in 19 patients (38%), lesions apparent after conventional staging methods were missed by SS-R scintigraphy. The sensitivity of SS-R scintigraphy varied from 62% for supradiaphragmatic lesions to 44% for infradiaphragmatic lesions. The specificity of SS-R scintigraphy was high (98%–100%). In comparison with CT scanning and sonography, SS-R scintigraphy is inferior for the visualization of NHL lesions in the thorax and abdomen. Conclusion: Although SS-R scintigraphy findings are positive in a large proportion of patients with low-grade NHL, in most patients only part of the lesions can be visualized. Because of the limited sensitivity, we recommend SS-R scintigraphy for initial staging of patients with low-grade NHL only in selected conditions and not for the general work-up.