Alfred E. Jones

Clinical Correlations of 67Ga and Skeletal Whole-Body Radionuclide Studies with Radiography in Ewing's Sarcoma

Twenty-seven patients with Ewings sarcoma were evaluated by whole-body radionuclide studies, using 67Ga citrate and 18F or 99mTc polyphosphate. Correlative diagnostic radiography was performed on all patients. Gallium scanning, bone scanning, and roentgen rays were of equal usefulness in diagnosing the primary lesion. Skeletal metastases were evaluated most effectively with bone scanning, 12 of 13 cases being thus detected, whereas 8 of 13 were detected on gallium images and 4 of 13 on radiographs. Lung metastases were found in 7 of 8 cases with radiography but in only 1 of 8 gallium scans.

Localization of 99mtechnetium in the region of the nose in Sjögren's syndrome.

Patients with Sjögrens syndrome accumulated abnormal amounts of 99mtechnetium pertechnetate in the region of the nose during isotopic salivary flow studies. It was concurrently and independently observed that many patients with Sjögrens syndrome had hyposmia and pathological changes in the nasal mucous membranes. Fourteen patients with Sjögrens syndrome were studied for the relationship of the above observations and the nasal accumulation of radionuclide was compared with a control group of 16 subjects. Eleven of 14 patients with Sjögrens syndrome (78%) had nasal accumulation of the radionuclide; 14 had hyposmia and 13 of 14 had chronic inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. One of 16 controls (6%) localized radionuclide in the nasal region. Results suggest that hyposmia, inflammatory changes in the nasal mucous membrane, and nasal accumulation of 99mtechnetium pertechnetate are interrelated aspects of Sjögrens syndrome.

Tumors of Head and Neck

Experience in the use of 67-Ga for tumors of the head and neck has been limited at NIH; however, an increasing number of patients with tumors in this region are being studied. The use of 67-Ga scintigraphy for the detection of metastases from these tumors appears encouraging.