Assessment of gallium-67 scanning in pulmonary and extrapulmonary sarcoidosis

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1986:465:455-62. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1986.tb18522.x.

Abstract

Gallium-67 scans have been widely employed in patients with sarcoidosis as a means of indicating alveolitis and the need for corticosteroid therapy. Observation of 32 patients followed 3 or more years after gallium scans showed no correlation between findings and later course: of 10 patients with pulmonary uptake, 7 recovered with minor residuals; of 18 patients with mediastinal of extrathoracic uptake, 10 had persistent or progressive disease; of 4 patients with negative initial scans, 2 had later progression. The value of gallium-67 scans as an aid to diagnosis was studied in 40 patients with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. In 12 patients, abnormal lacrimal, nodal, or pulmonary uptake aided in selection of biopsy sites. Gallium-67 scans and serum ACE levels were compared in 97 patients as indices of clinical activity. Abnormal gallium-67 uptake was observed in 96.3% of the tests in active disease, and ACE level elevation occurred in 56.3%. In 24 patients with inactive or recovered disease, abnormal gallium-67 uptake occurred in 62.5% and ACE level elevation in 37.5%. Gallium-67 scans have a limited but valuable role in the diagnosis and management of sarcoidosis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gallium Radioisotopes*
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / blood
  • Radiography
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Time Factors
  • Whole-Body Counting

Substances

  • Gallium Radioisotopes
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A