Using thallium-201 SPECT to detect recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy in patients with indeterminate CT findings

✍ Scribed by Yu-Chien Shiau; Feng-Yuan Liu; Wen-Sheng Huang; Ruoh-Fang Yen; Chia-Hung Kao

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 122 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1043-3074
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.10286

✦ Synopsis

Background:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of thallium-201 (tl-201) single-photon emission ct (spect) to detect recurrent or residual nasopharyngeal carcinomas (npc) when ct findings are indeterminate.

Methods:

After radiotherapy, 30 npc patients with indeterminate ct findings were included. ct, tl-201, and biopsy were performed at least 4 months after radiotherapy and within 1 week of each other. the final results were based on histopathologic findings and clinical follow-up after at least 6 months.

Results:

The rates for sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of tl-201 spect in detecting recurrent or residual npc when there were indeterminate ct findings, were 86.7%, 93.3%, and 90.0%, respectively.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that tl-201 spect is effective in detecting recurrent or residual npc when ct findings are indeterminate.