NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS, cilt.22, sa.3, ss.325-329, 2001 (SCI-Expanded)
Human immunoglobulin G labelled with Tc-99(m) (Tc-99(m)-HIG) is an agent introduced for the localization of inflammatory lesions. There is also a limited number of reports concerning the uptake of this agent by malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the uptake of Tc-99(m)-HIG by lymphoma. Twenty-three patients (five female, 18 male) with known Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for a period of 2-6 pears (mean 4.2 years) and which, by using computed tomography (CT), showed recurrence, were included in the study. The patients were aged between 32 and 68 years (mean 38 +/- 5 years). No evidence of inflammation or infection was seen in any of these patients. CT, Tc-99(m)-HIG and a Ga-67 scan were performed in the same week. CT showed abdominal involvement in 17 patients, pelvic involvement in 11, and thorax involvement in 11. 99Tcm-HIG showed higher sensitivity (94.1%) in the abdomen, a similar sensitivity (63.6%) in thorax, but lower (18.1%) in pelvic area than for Ga-67. Tc-99(m)-HIG was found to be more useful for the evaluation of abdominal involvement compared to Ga-67 due to gastrointestinal excretion of the latter. The resolution of 67Ga was better than Tc-99(m)-HIG in thorax and pelvis. Using Tc-99(m)- HIG and Ga-67 together in lymphoma may increase sensitivity. ((C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins).