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Comparison of thallium‐201 and gallium‐67 scintigraphy in the evaluation of non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma
Author(s) -
Roach P. J.,
Arthur C. K.,
Cooper R. A.,
Ravich R. B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1998.tb04456.x
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoma , avidity , thallium , nuclear medicine , hodgkin lymphoma , scintigraphy , non hodgkin's lymphoma , gastroenterology , immunology , antibody , inorganic chemistry , chemistry
Background: Gallium‐67 (Ga‐67) is widely used in the assessment of patients with lymphoma. Although highly sensitive in Hodgkin's disease and high grade non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), its sensitivity is reported to be reduced in lower grades of NHL. Several series have suggested that thallium‐201 (Tl‐201) may be more useful than Ga‐67 in the evaluation of low and possibly intermediate grade NHL. Aim: To compare the sensitivity and relative avidities (uptakes) of Tl‐201 and Ga‐67 in patients with NHL. Methods: A total of 36 pairs of studies were performed in 33 patients (14 male: 19 female; age range 16–84 years, mean 55 years). All had whole body Ga‐67 (400 MBq) and Tl‐201 (100–200 MBq) studies (interval 0‐three days) which were read by two experienced nuclear medicine physicians blinded to clinical history and results of other investigations. Results: Tl‐201 had a higher sensitivity and avidity than Ga‐67 in patients with low grade NHL. In contrast, Ga‐67 was slightly more sensitive and had a higher avidity in patients with both intermediate and high grade NHL. Conclusions: We conclude that Tl‐201 is more sensitive and avid for low grade NHL than Ga‐67 and that consideration should be given to its use in this condition in conjunction with Ga‐67 as it may provide complementary information. Routine use in intermediate grade NHL is less convincing as Ga‐67 was superior in most cases. Ga‐67 is more sensitive than Tl‐201 in assessment of high grade NHL.