Role of gallium-67 in management of paediatric solid tumours.

. Gallium-67 citrate (Ga67) has been advocated for the evaluation of cancer in infants and children. Its role in patient management is not well defined. Over a 2-year period, 136 Ga67 whole body scans were performed on 79 infants and children with cancer. Abnormal scans were found in 39 children with solid tumours before the commencement of therapy. Nineteen children on therapy at the time of the scan had normal studies and were clinically disease free. Seventeen children showed Ga67 avid recurrence of disease after treatment. Four of 5 children with leukaemia who had scans for the detection of infection showed an inflammatory focus on scan and directed appropriate management. Two children with a prostatic rhabdomyosarcoma did not accumulate gallium in the primary tumour before treatment. Whole body Ga67 scans should be performed prior to treatment in all children with solid tumours. If the tumour is Ga67 avid then serial scans are indicated to assess response to therapy, to detect recurrence and/or infective complications of the disease.