Clinical isotope scanning using⁶⁷Ga citrate in the management of Hodgkin's disease

An assessment has been made of the potential value of 67Ga citrate scanning in the management of Hodgkin's disease, based on 54 scans carried out on 50 patients, investigating 216 potential areas of involvement. Uptake was detected in 76 of 96 areas of active disease (79 per cent); no uptake in 115 of 120 (96 per cent) areas with no active disease; in 25 of the 216 areas (11·5 per cent) the scan gave a false positive or negative result. Measurements made on lymph nodes and spleens removed from 11 patients who underwent laparotomy show greater uptake of isotope in malignant than in normal tissues, but the mechanism of uptake remains unknown. The clinical significance of the technique, particularly in relation to the mediastinum, and the importance of the true negative scan in excluding suspected disease, are discussed.