DIFFUSE LUNG UPTAKE OF GA-67 AFTER TREATMENT OF LYMPHOMA - IS IT OF CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

PURPOSE: To determine if diffuse lung uptake (DLU) of gallium-67 at sc intigraphy in patients with lymphoma is indicative of lymphomatous inv olvement of the lungs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight patients (2 4 male, 14 female; aged 15-76 years) with DLU were examined. The relat ion between DLU and lymphoma was investigated. Radiographic and comput ed tomographic findings and the persistence of Ga-67 uptake were inves tigated to detect lymphomatous involvement of the lungs. The relations between chemotherapy and radiation therapy, previous lung or heart di sease, and DLU were also examined. RESULTS: DLU appeared only during o r after chemotherapy. No clinical, radiologic, or follow-up evidence i ndicated that patients with DLU had active lymphomatous involvement of the lungs. The difference in survival between patients with persisten t and patients with transient DLU was not statistically significant. N o statistically significant correlation between DLU and any possible i nductive factor was indicated at multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: DL U after treatment does not indicate lymphomatous involvement of the lu ngs.