EVALUATION OF PENTAVALENT TC-99M DMSA SCINTIGRAPHY IN SMALL-CELL AND NONSMALL CELL LUNG CANCERS

Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of Tc-99m (V) DMSA in patients suspected of lung cancer and determine whether this agent may have value in differentiation between small ce ll (SCLC) and non-small cell (NSCLC) lung carcinoma. Methods: Thirty-s ix patients with clinical and radiological suspicion of primary lung c arcinoma were injected 450-600 MBq of Tc-99m (V) DMSA intravenously. W hole body and planar anterior, posterior thorax images were obtained 4 -5 h after injection of the radioactive complex. Results: Histopatholo gical results confirmed 23 NSCLC, 10 SCLC and 1 metastatic lung carcin oma and 2 lung abscess. Nineteen of the 23 (82%) NSCLC and all of the 10 (100%) SCLC cases showed Tc-99m (V) DMSA uptake. Single metastatic lung cancer also accumulated radiotracer. Lung abscess did not show up take. Lesion/Nonlesion (L/N) ratio of SCLC (1.59 +/- 0.32) and NSCLC ( 1.43 +/- 0.19) tumour types did not show statistical difference (p >0. 05). Tc-99m (V) DMSA whole body imaging also showed bone metastases. C onclusion: Tc-99m (V) DMSA is a noninvasive and cheap imaging method t o detect malignant lung cancers and their bone metastases but, differe ntiation of SCLC and NSCLC is not possible.