RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Utility and Reproducibility of Semiquantitative Analysis of Sestamibi Breast Images
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol.
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 106
OP 109
VO 25
IS 2
A1 L.K. Dunnwald
A1 S.D. Hartnett
A1 D.A. Mankoff
YR 1997
UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/25/2/106.abstract
AB Technetium-99m-sestamibi scintimammography has been shown to be a useful diagnostic test in the detection of breast cancer. The purpose of this study was two-fold to: (a) evaluate semiquantitative indices of tracer uptake in lesions and determine if they are helpful in distinguishing benign from malignant breast lesions; and (b) test the reproducibility of these measures of sestamibi uptake in breast images. Methods: Prone lateral planar imaging was performed on 27 patients after intravenous injection of 20–30 mCi 99mTc-sestamibi. Data were analyzed by creating three regions of interest (ROIs) over designated areas; lesion, normal breast and right chest wall. Lesion-to-normal (L:N) and lesion-to-chest wall (L:CW) ratios were calculated for each patient. Reproducibility was assessed by having two independent observers draw ROIs (interobserver) and one observer draw two independent sets of ROIs (intraobserver). Results: L:N and L:CW ratios were significantly different for malignant versus benign lesions (p < 0.001 for both ratios). Intraobserver and interobserver reproducibility showed good correlation with r = 0.98 (L:CW ratio). Conclusion: Semiquantitative analysis of sestamibi breast imaging results in reproducible uptake ratios that may be helpful in objectively interpreting imaging results.