The role of technetium-99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile scintigraphy in suspected recurrent breast cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the role of technetium-99m methoxyis obutyl isonitrile (Tc-99m-MIBI) scintigraphy in the evaluation of recurrenc e and metastases in breast cancer patients with mastectomy and/or radiother apy. A prospective study was designed to assess the accuracy of Tc-99m-MIBI scintigraphy in 36 patients (mean age 49 years) with suspected recurrent b reast cancer. The scintigraphic studies were correlated with radiological f indings and/or with histopathology. At 10-15 min after 740MBq Tc-99m-MIBI i njection, standard planar images were obtained in prone lateral and anterio r supine views and then single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging was performed. A whole body imaging was also performed to demonstra te distant metastatic lesions. Totally 52 lesions were evaluated which 19 o f them in 9 patients were malignant, while 33 lesions in 27 patients were b enign. The sensitivity, was 33%, 88% and the specificity was 96%, 93% for p lanar and SPECT imaging, respectively in loco-regional lesions. Overall til e sensitivity and the specificity of MIBI imaging including whole bony were 89%, 81%, in other conventional radiological imaging methods were 95%, 65% , respectively. Tc-99m-MIBI scintigraphy using SPECT imaging may provide us eful complementary information in patients with suspected recurrence breast cancer.