Diagnostic Accuracy of Quantitative Scintimammography Using Tc-99m Tetrofosmin according to ROC Curve Analysis for Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Tc-99m Tetrofosmin is a new alternative to Tc- 99m MIBI for nuclear breast imaging. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the feasibility of Tc-99m Tetrofosmin quantitative scintimammography (SMM) (qSMM) and to compare with previously reported Tc-99m MIBI qSMM data [J Kor Surg 1999;57(5)638-644)]. METHODS: Prone anterior, lateral planar and supine SPECT images were taken from 135 cases in 131 female patients (mean ages=44 yr) with breast mass (size> or =0.2 cm) after 30mCi intravenous injection of Tc-99m Tetrofosmin. 70 malignant and 65 benign lesions were histologically proven. Three regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn over designated areas the Lesion (L), the Normal breast opposite the lesion (NL) and the right Chest wall (CW). L/NL and L/CW ratios on both the SPECT and the planar images were analyzed. RESULTS: ROC curve analysis revealed that the planar L/NL ratio and the SPECT L/NL and L/CW ratios had higher diagnostic accuracy for detecting breast cancer than he planar L/CW ratio did (P<0.05). The qSMM (mean), which is an arithmetic mean of the planar L/NL ratio, the SPECT L/NL ratio and the SPECT L/CW ratio, the sensitivity, the specificity, accuracy and area under curve (AUC) were 82.9%, 81.5%, 82.2% and 0.879 respectively. Presence of axillary lymph node metastasis showed a slightly higher qSMM (mean) value (2.79 {n=23} vs 2.75 {n=27} P=0.06). These are comparable with previously reported Tc-99m MIBI qSMM data of 84.4%, 76.6%, 81.0% and 0.847 respectively, and the presence of axillary lymph node metastasis showed a higher qSMM(mean) value (4.09 {n=17} vs 3.09 {n=28}, P=0.06) [J Kor Surg 1999; 57(5)638-644)]. CONCLUSION: Tc-99m Tetrofosmin qSMM (mean) is a useful and objective method for differentiating malignant from benign breast lesion and has the comparable diagnostic accuracies of Tc-99m MIBI qSMM.