Gallium scans in patients with mediastinal Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy.

PURPOSETo determine the predictive value of gallium scans in patients with mediastinal Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy or combined modality treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSA retrospective study was performed of 48 patients with mediastinal Hodgkin's disease treated with chemotherapy or combined modality therapy. Patients were monitored with whole-body planar scans (34 patients) or chest single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) plus planar abdominal imaging studies (14 patients). Scans were performed at diagnosis, following three to eight cycles of chemotherapy, and after the end of treatment. The value of gallium scans in modifying treatment and predicting outcome was assessed.RESULTSAll patients studied at the time of diagnosis had abnormal gallium accumulation in the mediastinum. After chemotherapy, four patients had residual mediastinal activity; two patients with persistent activity on planar scans failed to enter remission and died of disease; two other patients with abnormal acti...