Gallium-67 scintigraphy in lung diseases

There is some disagreement in the literature about the tumour affinity and tumour specificity of gallium-67 (67Ga). The present investigation showed good uptake of 67Ga in most cases of bronchial carcinoma, but some uptake of 67Ga was also found in 30% of those with non-malignant lung lesions. There was no relationship between the uptake of 67Ga and the histological type of bronchial carcinoma. After radiotherapy, a transient uptake of 67Ga in the irradiated field was seen. In five patients who were studied again two months after the end of radiation treatment, uptake of 67Ga was no longer demonstrable at the original site of the tumour. 67Ga appears to be an isotope with a high affinity for bronchial carcinoma but it is not tumour specific. However, our experience indicates that a negative 67Ga scintigram of the lung in a case of suspected malignancy calls for reconsideration of the clinical diagnosis.