[Usefulness of gallium-67 scintigraphy in diagnosing pyothorax-associated lymphoma]

Two cases of pyothorax-associated malignant lymphoma were reported. The presence of chronic tuberculous pyothorax after thoracoplasty and the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on the chest wall are closely related. Both patients had suffered from tuberculous pyothorax for more than thirty years, and developed new painful chest wall tumors. CT and MRI delineated both malignant lymphoma and pyothorax. Gallium-67 accumulated strongly in malignant lymphoma, however did not in pyothorax. Gallium-67 scintigraphy was useful for detection of malignant lymphoma in both cases; therefore it could be a useful test for diagnosing of pyothorax-associated lymphoma.