SCINTIMAMMOGRAPHY WITH TC-99M TETROFOSMIN IN SUSPECTED BREAST-CANCER

Background. Scintimammography with Tc-99m sestamibi has recently demon strated a clinical usefulness in the evaluation of patients with breas t lesions. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of s cintimammography using Tc99m tetrofosmin in the detection of breast ca ncer: Materials and Methods. Fifty-five patients (age range: 33-76 yea rs) with suspicious breast abnormalities detected by mammography, and ten controls were examined. Dynamic images (1-20 min postinjection of the radiopharmaceutical) followed by three planar views were performed . Final diagnosis was achieved by hystology after surgery or excisiona l biopsy. Results. A total of 59 breast lesions were consider ed. The sensitivity of Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography for detection of p rimary breast cancer was 93.1% (27/29) and the specificity was 93.3% ( 28/30). No focal uptake was observed in both breasts of the control po pulation. Conclusions. Tc-99m tetrofosmin scintimammography has high d iagnostic accuracy in detecting breast cancel and may have a clinical role as complement to conventional mammography.