Clinical experience with 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography in patients with breast microcalcifications

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate whether 99m Tc-MIBI scintimammography can improve the diagnostic value of mammography for the differentiation of benign and malignant breast microcalcifications. In 41 women presenting 45 clusters of microcalcifications, a 99m Tc-MIBI scintimammography was performed before open biopsy. There were 24 malignant lesions (53%). The sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 99m Tc-MIBI scintimammography were 58.3% and 81%, and the positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were 78% and 63%, respectively. SE and PPV increased for lesions over 10 mm and for the younger patients (under 50 years). No correlation was found between true positive uptake and breast cancer invasiveness: 69% (9/13) for invasive lesions and 45% (5/11) for noninvasive lesions ( p =0.48). 99m Tc-MIBI scintimammography was more often positive in high grade than in low- or intermediate-grade ductal carcinoma in situ ( p =0.03). The results were analysed according to the morphologic aspect of the microcalcifications. 99m Tc-MIBI scintimammography could not be used for routine evaluation of all the microcalcifications detected by mammography.