BREAST-CANCER DETECTION WITH SESTAMIBI-TC-99M AND TL-201 RADIONUCLIDES IN PATIENTS WITH NON CONCLUSIVE MAMMOGRAPHY

Early diagnosis of breast cancer using breast examination, mammography and ultrasonography is highly accurate, but radiologically dense brea st represent a challenge for the mammographic detection of early stage tumors. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical value of s cintigraphic techniques in the early diagnosis of breast cancer when o ther methods give non-conclusive results. The study includes 260 women with clinical suspicion of breast cancer and non-conclusive findings in mammography, randomized either to scintigraphic scans with Sestamib i Tc 99m al Tl 201. Up to date, 64 women have been enrolled, 46 in Tl- 201 and 18 in Sestamibi Tc 99m. Results obtained show 73% sensitivity and 94% specificity with Tl 201 and 77% sensitivity and 100% specifici ty with Sestamibi Tc 99m. In this group, diagnostic accuracy improves when the tumors are bigger than two centimetres in diameter or when th ey are palpable. These preliminary results show that scintigraphic bre ast examinaton seems useful when other diagnostic methods provide non- conclusive results.