TC-99M TETROFOSMIN, IN BREAST-CARCINOMA AND AXILLARY LYMPH-NODE METASTASES - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY WITH TC-99M MIBI

The potential of Tc-99m tetrofosmin for the imaging of breast carcinom a and axillary lymph node metastases was investigated and compared wit h that of Tc-99m MIBI. Thirty female patients with palpable breast mas ses underwent Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy; 17 of those underwent Tc-99m t etrofosmin scintigraphy. The axillary and breast regions were evaluate d in all patients, All patients underwent biopsy within 2 weeks of the study. Twenty patients were found to have a primary malignancy of the breast, whereas 10 had benign disease. The patients with breast carci noma had surgery. Twelve patients had axillary lymph node metastases. Tc-99m MIBI breast imaging showed abnormal uptake in 18 of 20 malignan cies and in 8 of 12 axillary lymph node metastases. Tc-99m tetrofosmin breast imaging showed abnormal uptake in 13 of 14 malignancies and in 6 of 10 axillary lymph node metastases. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values obtained with Tc-99m MIBI and Tc-99m tetrofosmin scin tigraphy for breast carcinoma were 90%, 90%, 90%, and 93%, 100%, 94%, respectively. The values obtained with Tc-99m MIBI and Tc-99m tetrofos min scintigraphy for axillary lymph node metastases were 66%, 100%, 86 %, and 60%, 100%, 76%, respectively. The authors conclude that both of these techniques are effective in the differentiation of malignant br east masses from benign ones and In detecting axillary lymph node meta stases. However, Tc-99m tetrofosmin is superior to Tc-99m MIBI in dete cting breast carcinoma.