ABSTRACT
Malignant melanoma of the skin has become a real problem due to the increasing number of cases. No other tumor is induced by long term UV-radiation of the skin. Excision of the primary tumor is the treatment of choice in this disease. Before excision of the tumor lymphoscintigraphy is the first choice in diagnosis to demonstrate the draining lymph vessels and lymph node groups of an malignant melanoma for later operation. This work current the status quo of lymphoscintigraphy in malignant melanoma of the trunk.
Subject(s)
Lymph Nodes/diagnostic imaging , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Melanoma/diagnostic imaging , Skin Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Female , Gamma Cameras , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Male , Melanoma/pathology , Melanoma/surgery , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Prognosis , Radionuclide Imaging , Skin Neoplasms/pathology , Skin Neoplasms/surgery , Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated AlbuminABSTRACT
The present study was done in order to examine if the use of 111In-DTPA-labeled MAb fragments in place of 131I-labeled MAb fragments increases the sensitivity of tomographic immunoscintigraphy to reach the level of that of planar imaging techniques. In 11 patients with various primary tumors, local recurrences or metastases [colorectal carcinoma (n = 7), ovarian carcinoma (n = 2), papillary thyroid carcinoma (n = 1), undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung (n = 1)], immunoscintigraphy (IS) was carried out using 111In-DTPA-labeled F(ab')2 fragments of various MAbs (anti-CEA, OC 125, anti-hTG) and planar and tomographic imaging were compared intra-individually. By conventional diagnostic procedures, the presence of a tumor mass was confirmed (transmission computer tomography, ultrasound) or verified (131I whole-body scintigraphy, histology) in all cases. Immunoscintigraphy was positive in 9 out of 11 cases by ECT and in 10 out of 11 cases by planar imaging. When using 111In-labeled MAb fragments, intra-individual comparison of ECT and planar imaging resulted in a similar sensitivity. The increased sensitivity of ECT using this tracer in contrast to 131I-labeled MAb fragments may be attributed to the fact that the physical properties of 111In are much more suitable for the gamma cameras most commonly used (single detector, 3/8'' crystal); using 111In-labeled MAb fragments, count rates sufficient for ECT can be obtained within a reasonable acquisition time. This allows to combine IS with the advantages of ECT regarding tumour localization and prevention of artefacts due to superposition of background.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Monoclonal , Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Pentetic Acid , Adult , Aged , Humans , Middle Aged , Radionuclide Imaging , Tomography, Emission-ComputedABSTRACT
Four patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and Kaposi's sarcoma were treated with subcutaneous human recombinant gamma-interferon at a dosage of 200 micrograms = 2 X 10(6) U twice daily for at least 28 days. While the dosage of interferon was well tolerated, progressive disease was observed in all four patients studied. These results might be due to the selection of the patients presenting advanced stages (3 out of 4) with recurrent disease after previous chemotherapy.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/therapy , Interferon-gamma/therapeutic use , Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use , Retroviridae Infections/therapy , Sarcoma, Kaposi/therapy , Skin Neoplasms/therapy , Adult , Deltaretrovirus , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The methods and the radioisotopes used in scintiscanning of the liver have recently seen major advances. The clinical indications for scintigraphy in focal and diffuse diseases of the liver are discussed. Scintigraphy compares favorably with other imaging techniques with regard to sensitivity and specificity.
