IMMUNOSCINTIGRAPHY USING IN-111-LABELED F(AB')(2) FRAGMENTS OF ANTICARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA) MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY FOR STAGING OF NONSMALL CELL LUNG-CARCINOMA

28 patients with primitive lung cancers were imaged by immunoscintigra phy (IS) with (111)indium-labelled F(ab')(2) anti-carcinoembryonic ant igen (CEA), to assess this technique for mediastinal staging. IS revea led primitive tumours in 21 cases in whom mediastinal extension was as sessed. There was concordance between clinical staging and IS confirme d by surgery in 17 cases, and discordance in 4. After surgery, discord ance was in favour of IS in 2 cases (1 true positive and 1 true negati ve) and in favour of clinical staging in 2 (false positive of immunosc intigraphy). Anti-CEA IS could be useful for improving mediastinal sta ging of lung cancer.