ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin is an efficient agent as a tumor marker. Several studies have proven its efficiency in detection and localization of tumors of the breast, larynx, thyroid, parathyroid glands, lung, brain, skin, lymphatic and musculoskeletal tissues with a sensitivity and specificity of 95% to 100%. It is used as a predictor of therapy efficacy and to localize remaining and recurrent tissue as well as local and distant extension. OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the three-phase 99mTc-Tetrofosmin scan in detection of malignant lesions of the musculoskeletal tissue. METHODS: Seventy-three patients of both genders with suspected malignant musculoskeletal lesions were studied by three-phase (vascular, tissue and delayed images) 99mTc-tectrofosmin scans. RESULTS: One-hundred-percent sensitivity, 67.3% specificity, 55% positive predictive value, and 100% negative predictive value. CONCLUSION: Three-phase 99mTc-tectrofosmin scan is useful in detection of malignant lesions of the musculoskeletal system due to its high sensitivity and positive predictive value. Nevertheless, benign pathology such as active inflammation is a source of false positives and the attending physician must consider the aid of complementary studies such as histopathology.
