Gallium-67 scintigraphy in lung diseases

Abstract

There is some disagreement in the literature about the tumour affinity and tumour specificity of gallium-67 (⁶⁷Ga). The present investigation showed good uptake of ⁶⁷Ga in most cases of bronchial carcinoma, but some uptake of ⁶⁷Ga was also found in 30% of those with non-malignant lung lesions. There was no relationship between the uptake of ⁶⁷Ga and the histological type of bronchial carcinoma. After radiotherapy, a transient uptake of ⁶⁷Ga in the irradiated field was seen. In five patients who were studied again two months after the end of radiation treatment, uptake of ⁶⁷Ga was no longer demonstrable at the original site of the tumour. ⁶⁷Ga appears to be an isotope with a high affinity for bronchial carcinoma but it is not tumour specific. However, our experience indicates that a negative ⁶⁷Ga scintigram of the lung in a case of suspected malignancy calls for reconsideration of the clinical diagnosis.