Comparison of 67Ga-citrate, 111In-bleomycin and 99mTc-citrate in the evaluation of pulmonary lesions

Abstract

A total of 128 patients were examined using three tumor localizing agents, 99mTc-citrate, 111In-bleomycin and 67Ga-citrate. All these patients had clinical symptoms of pulmonary disease and chest x-rays. Twenty-two patients were excluded from the original number. From the 106 remaining patients, 14 were benign cases and 92 malignant. A scan with a gamma-camera was performed 3 to 4 h following an intravenous injection of 15 mCi of 99mTc-citrate. Upon completion of this examination, the patient was given 2.5 mCi of 67Ga-citrate and 72 h later, scans were obtained using a 5in. rectilinear scanner. Fifteen days later 2.5 mCi of 111In-bleomycin was given and a similar examination to that of gallium was performed. In evaluating benign lesions, 99mTc-citrate gave no false positive results, while 111In-bleomycin gave 5% and 67Ga-citrate 20%. In the case of malignant lesions, 67Ga-citrate gave 79% true positive diagnosis, 111In-bleomycin 65% and 99Tc-citrate (of 57 evaluated patients) 46%.