SWEAT GLANDS ACCUMULATE TC-99M MIBI

Tc-99m MIBI, which was originally developed for myocardial perfusion s tudies, may also be used for depiction and characterization of tumors. Forty-one patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism were examined w ith Tc-99m MIBI to localize a parathyroid adenoma or hyperplasia. In 1 9 of these patients (46%), bilateral symmetrical activity correspondin g to the large deep apocrine sweat glands of the axillae was present. Sweat gland activity was not correlated with serum calcium levels. Alt hough these patients may represent a selected group, the observation i s clinically relevant regardless of its reason or mechanism. It is imp ortant also to be aware of this cause for activity in the axilla when assessing lymph node involvement in breast cancer patients using Tc-99 m MIBI.