Preoperative nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer using 99mTc-sestamibi spect/ct imaging

OBJECTIVES: The proper nodal staging of non-small cell lung cancer is important for choosing the best treatment modality. Although computed tomography remains the first-line imaging test for the primary staging of lung cancer, its limitations for mediastinum nodal staging are well known. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of hybrid single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography using 99mTc-sestamibi in the nodal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and to identify potential candidates for surgical treatment. METHODS: Prospective data were collected for 41 patients from December 2006 to February 2009. The patients underwent chest computed tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography examinations with 99mTc-sestamibi within a 30-day time period before surgery. Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography was considered positive when there was focal uptake of sestamibi in the mediastinum, and computed tomography scan when there was lymph nodes larger than 10 mm in short axis. The results of single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography were correlated with pathology findings after surgery. RESULTS: Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography correctly identified six out of 19 cases involving hilar lymph nodes and one out of seven cases involving nodal metastases in the mediastinum. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in the hilum assessment were 31.6%, 95.5%, 85.7%, and 61.8%, respectively. The same values for the mediastinum were 14.3%, 97.1%, 50%, and 84.6%, respectively. For the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, chest tomography showed sensitivity values of 47.4% and 57.1%, specificity values of 95.5% and 91.2%, positive predictive values of 90% and 57.1% and negative predictive values of 67.7% and 91.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography with 99mTc-sestamibi showed very low sensitivity and accuracy for the nodal staging of patients with non-small cell lung cancer, despite its high level of specificity. In addition, the performance of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography added no relevant information compared to computed tomography that would justify its use in the routine preoperative staging of non-small cell lung carcinoma

Papel da tomografia torácica e abdominal no estadiamento do carcinoma mamário localmente avançado

O câncer de mama localmente avançado (CMLA) é uma realidade comum para pacientes com neoplasia mamária nos países em desenvolvimento. Exames convencionais (radiografia de tórax, ultrassonografia abdominal e cintilografia óssea) demonstram que, ao diagnóstico, dentre as pacientes com CMLA, aquelas no estádio clínico III, 8.3% possuem doença metastática, chegando a 13.9% se exames adicionais são realizados. O novo TNM não define quais seriam os exames apropriados para o estadiamento dessas pacientes, enquanto o NCCN/2012 sugere o uso de tomografia computadorizada e da cintilografia óssea, porém não há nenhum estudo prospectivo controlado comparando, nas mesmas pacientes, o impacto da diferença no estádio clínico utilizando diferentes metodologias de exames de imagem. Avaliar o impacto do uso de diferentes exames radiológicos para mudança do estádio clínico de pacientes com CMLA e a possibilidade de avaliar metástases ósseas com a tomografia computadorizada em comparação à cintilografia. Estudo prospectivo randomizado (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00820690) realizado no período de 06/2008 a 05/2011 no Hospital de Câncer de Barretos. Foram incluídas as pacientes com carcinoma invasivo, estádio clinico III, com ausência de sintomas sistêmicos e ausência de tratamento prévio. Foram excluídas as pacientes com ausência de doença invasora, sem exames de estadiamento e pacientes sem seguimento adequado. As pacientes realizaram, após o exame clínico, a mamografia, ultrassonografia mamária e biópsia. Para avaliação de doença metastática oculta, as pacientes foram submetidas à radiografia do tórax, ultrassonografia abdominal, cintilografia óssea (exames convencionais) e tomografia computadorizada (abdominal e torácica). Na presença de suspeita clínica, exames complementares foram realizados. Havendo a necessidade de controle tomográfico, novos exames foram realizados...Introduction:The locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is a common entity in developing countries. Conventional exams (Chest X-Ray, abdominal ultrasound, bone scintigraphy) show 8.3% of metastatic disease, leading to 13.9% of metastasis when additional exams are performed. Although the new TNM do not define the appropriate exams for staging, the NCCN/2012 suggested the use of tomography and bone scintigraphy in LABC, but there is no prospective controlled study comparing in the same patients the difference in clinical staging using conventional and recommended exams. To evaluate the impact of the use of different radiological exams in the clinical stage of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) and the possibility to evaluate bone metastasis with computed tomography (CT) in substitution of scintigraphy. A prospective clinical trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00820690) performed in breast cancer women during 06/2008 to 05/2011. Inclusion criteria adopted was patients with invasive carcinoma, clinical stage III, absence of systemic symptoms, absence of previous treatment. Exclusion criteria were the absence of invasive disease, staging exams and followup. The patients were submitted to a clinical examination, mammography, breast ultrasound and biopsy. To evaluate the presence of metastatic disease the patients were submitted to chest X-Ray, abdominal ultrasound, bone scintigraphy (conventional exams) and CT (abdominal and thoracic). In the presence of suspicion exams, complementary exams were performed. If the CT needs control, new exams were performed. All patients were submitted to neoadjuvant or palliative chemotherapy. At the end of study one radiologist (GFG) reviewed all exams and medical reports. We evaluated the tax of metastasis in the conventional exams and when the patients were evaluated with CT. 148 patients were enrolled, but 10 patients were excluded. From the 138 patients the median tumor ..