technetium-tc-99m-tetrofosmin and Fibrocystic-Breast-Disease

201Tl and 99Tcm-MIBI have been used to evaluate palpable breast masses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin as a new tumour localizing agent in patients with palpable breast masses. Nineteen palpable breast masses were evaluated in 18 patients. Each patient received 740 MBq 99Tcm-tetrofosmin intravenously. Ten minutes after the injection, planar breast images in the anterior, right lateral and left lateral views were obtained with the patient in the supine position. Mammography and ultrasonography were performed in all patients. Biopsy or mastectomy with axillary dissection was performed in all patients. Thirteen of 14 primary breast tumours were detected (9 invasive ductal carcinomas, 3 invasive lobular carcinomas, 1 papillary carcinoma). One patient with mucinous carcinoma did not demonstrate 99Tcm-tetrofosmin accumulation. Four of five patients with histopathologically proven benign lesions did not demonstrate 99Tcm-tetrofosmin accumulation (2 fibrocystic diseases, 2 fibroadenomas). 99Tcm-tetrofosmin accumulation was seen in a patient with chronic mastitis. The sensitivity and specificity of 99Tcm-tetrofosmin for malignant breast lesions was 92 and 80% respectively. Four of seven (57%) axillary lymph node metastases showed 99Tcm-tetrofosmin uptake. In conclusion, 99Tcm-tetrofosmin shows real promise for use in evaluating patients with palpable breast masses.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms, Male; Female; Fibroadenoma; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Male; Mammography; Mastitis; Middle Aged; Organophosphorus Compounds; Organotechnetium Compounds; Physical Examination; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, Emission-Computed

Despite low specificity routine mammography is the method of choice to screen women for breast cancer. In addition high frequency ultrasonography (US) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can improve breast cancer diagnosis. However there is a lack of conventional imaging to improve the high rate of false positive results that make biopsy or surgery necessary.. The purpose of our study was to evaluate prospectively the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of scintimammography with a new cationic complex Tc-99m-tetrofosmin.. Fourtyeight patients in whom mammography and/or high resolution ultrasonography (10 MHz) revealed suspicious breast lesions were studied with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin scintimammography. In thirtyfour of them biopsy and/or surgery was performed for histological evaluation. After intravenous injection of 555 MBq Tc-99m-tetrofosmin dynamic images over three minutes (1 frame/10 sec.) planar images in anterior and lateral projections (5 min. p.i.) and SPECT imaging including 3-D-reconstruction (20 min. p.i.) were performed. Scintimammography was evaluated as negative, equivocal (+), probably (+2) or definitely (+3) positive. Scintimammography with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin was negative in 18 patients (17 t.p., 1 f.n.) and positive in 16 patients (10 t.p., 6 f.p.). The false negative scintimammography was observed in a patient with infiltrating ductal carcinoma pT1, the false positive results in a patient with fibrocystic disease; all of the five fibroadenomas were also "false" positive. Sensitivity of Tc-99m-tetrofosmin scintimammography in this prospective study was 91%, specificity 74%, PPV 63% and NPV 94%. Scintimammographic results in patients with suspicious breast lesion show, that Tc-99m-tetrofosmin accumulates in breast cancer as well as in fibroadenoma. However the high NPV of 94% excludes breast cancer in suspicious mammographic lesions in a very high degree and therefore reduces the need of biopsy and/or surgery in most of these patients. Our first results show that scintimammography with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin might play a role as further diagnostic step before surgery for women in whom mammography and/or ultrasonography show suspicious lesions.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Breast; Breast Diseases; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Mammography; Middle Aged; Necrosis; Organophosphorus Compounds; Organotechnetium Compounds; Prospective Studies; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Ultrasonography, Mammary