USE OF GA-67-SPECT IN PATIENTS WITH MALIG NANT-LYMPHOMA FOLLOWING PRIMARY CHEMOTHERAPY FOR FURTHER TREATMENT PLANNING - COMPARISON WITH SPIRAL CT

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic value of gallium scintigraphy using a SPECT technique with spiral CT for evaluating activity following ch emotherapy in patients with malignant lymphoma and to determine treatm ent options. Material and Method: The results of gallium scintigraphy in 28 patients with malignant lymphoma (19 Hodgkin's disease, 9 high g rade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) following curative treatment were compare d with the CT morphology in relation to inactive regions and residual masses. Results: Ga-67-SPECT proved superior to CT for evaluating the activity in 85 initially involved nodes (sensitivity 94.4% against 83. 3%; specificity 100% against 92.5%). It was, however, inferior for dem onstrating organ involvement in 28 instances. In seven patients with r esidual masses, Ga-67-SPECT directly affected staging and further ther apy. Conclusion: The increasing use of secondary treatment schemes for curative purposes makes Ga-67-SPECT a suitable method for the early r ecognition of residual activity in Hodgkin's disease and high grade no n-Hodgkin's lymphoma.