THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ISOLATED GA-67 UPTAKE IN THE HILAR LYMPH-NODES OFAN UNTREATED LYMPHOMA PATIENT

A 69-year-old woman presented with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the right illoinguinal region in whom bilateral uptake of Ga-67 in hilar lymph nodes was noted on thoracic SPECT. There were no Ga-67 abnormalities e lsewhere within the thorax, and a chest CT scan was also normal. The p atient received radiotherapy to the inguinal region and remained in cl inical remission for 28 months following treatment. She subsequently r elapsed at a number of peripheral lymph node sites, but not in the che st. The authors postulate that isolated hilar uptake of Ga-67 SPECT ma y not be clinically significant in some untreated patients with lympho ma. This scintigraphic finding should be interpreted cautiously, parti cularly when other chest imaging studies remain negative.