DEFECTION OF NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA WITH HEAD AND NECK TC-99M TETROFOSMIN SPECT IMAGING

Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT imaging of the head and neck was performed on 10 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and 10 controls. Ther e was no abnormal nasopharyngeal uptake of tetrofosmin in the 10 contr ols. In the patients with NPC, 3/10 (30%) of the cases had no abnormal uptake and 7/10 (70%) had increased nasopharyngeal uptake. Considerin g our preliminary study, we find that Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT of the head and neck may be helpful in the detection of NPC. However, further study with a larger number of patients is needed to ascertain the val ue of Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT in such cases.