This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gambini, J. P. Articles by Alonso, O. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gambini, J. P. Articles by Alonso, O.

Evaluation of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer by Means of ^99mTc-Glucarate

¹ Nuclear Medicine Center, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; ² School of Medical Technology, Nuclear Medicine Technology Program, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; ³ Nuclear Investigations Center, School of Science, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; ⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; ⁵ Department of Radiology, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; ⁶ Department of Radiochemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay; and ⁷ Department of Oncology, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Omar Alonso, Nuclear Medicine Center, Clinical Hospital, University of Uruguay, Avenida Italia s/n, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay. E-mail: oalonso{at}hc.edu.uy

Preliminary findings have suggested that ^99mTc-glucarate has tumor-seeking properties. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of this tracer to evaluate malignant head and neck tumors by means of SPECT/CT software fusion imaging. Methods: Eleven male patients with advanced head and neck carcinoma were included in the study: 9 with locally advanced disease and 2 with clinical suspicion of local relapse. Scanning started 3–6 h after the injection of 1,110 MBq of ^99mTc-glucarate. Planar and SPECT images of the head, neck, and thorax were acquired. Three-dimensional images were also coregistered with CT. Results: We found ^99mTc-glucarate uptake in all suspected lesions. SPECT/CT fusion imaging was helpful in all cases for topographically localizing the tracer foci. Conclusion: ^99mTc-glucarate can be considered a potential tracer for the evaluation of patients with head and neck tumors.

Key Words: head and neck tumors; ^99mTc-glucarate; SPECT/CT software fusion