Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lung tumours

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Abstract
Technetium-99m-tetrofosmin is a new myocardial imaging agent which has yielded promising results compared to thallium-201. The tumour-seeking properties of the routinely used cardiac radiopharmaceuticals201Tl and99mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile are well known. Here we report the results of a pilot study demonstrating99mTc-tetrofosmin uptake in malignant lung tumours. Five patients with bronchial carcinoma, each in different stages of chemo- or radiotherapy, were imaged. Dynamic and static acquisitions were performed to evaluate the uptake and kinetics of99mTc-tetrofosmin in the lesions. In four of the five patients localized tumour uptake of99mTc-tetrofosmin was observed. Time to peak tumour activity and tracer washout in the tumour, myocardium and contralateral normal lung at 30 min post injection (p.i.) were determined. Tumour/normal lung, heart/tumour and heart/contralateral normal lung ratios were calculated for 5–10, 25–30 and 85–90 min p.i. The peak concentration in all tumours was reached at the end of the first minute. The mean tumour and contralateral normal lung washout rates of99mTc-tetrofosmin at 30 min p.i. were 18.3%±9.2% and 19.5%±5.85% respectively. The tumour/contralateral normal lung ratio remained higher than 1.25 until 90 min p.i. in all four patients. It is concluded that99mTc-tetrofosmin seems to be of value in lung tumour imaging, although larger studies are necessary to ascertain its sensitivity, specificity and usefulness in clinical practice.