GA-67 SCINTIGRAPHY IN LYMPHOMA WITH BONE INVOLVEMENT

Both Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) may involve bone. Trad itio?ally, Tc-99m-MDp bone scintigraphy has been used to detect such i nvolvement. In recent years, Ga-67 scintigraphy has shown to be useful in monitoring treatment response in lymphoma. Although Tc-99m-MDP has not been found particularly useful for monitoring bone response to ca ncer treatment, we were interested in whether Ga-67 scintigraphy and S PECT could be used to monitor bone involvement with lymphoma. Methods: Gallium-67 and Tc-99m-MDp uptake were investigated in 20 patients wit h lymphoma involving the bone before treatment. Gallium-67 scans were done in 16 patients for monitoring response to treatment in the bone l esions. Results: Gallium-67 studies diagnosed bone lesions in 19 of th e 20 patients. Technetium-99m-MDP detected bone lesions in all patient s investigated. In four patients, uptake by Ga-67 was more intense tha n Tc-99m-MDP and in another four patients Tc-99m-MDP uptake was more e vident. Gallium-67, however, was useful in detecting other regions of involvement in 18 of the 19 patients with soft-tissue lymphoma lesions . Gallium-67 scintigraphy also correctly monitored bone response to tr eatment in all but one of the 16 patients who had Ga-67 scintigraphy a fter completing therapy. Conclusion: Gallium-67 uptake by lymphoma inv olving the bone can be used to monitor osseous response to treatment.