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99Tcm (v) DMSA: the pituitary sign.
J C Watkinson1, C R Lazarus, M N Maisey
1Department of Otolaryngology, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Nuclear Medicine Communications
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Technetium-99m (99Tcm) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) shows pituitary gland uptake in head and neck cancer patients. This finding was confirmed in rabbit studies, suggesting it
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Oncology
- Radiopharmacology
Background:
- Technetium-99m (99Tcm) dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) is an emerging radiotracer for tumor imaging.
- Established biodistribution patterns for 99Tcm (v) DMSA in the head and neck region are known.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of 99Tcm (v) DMSA in imaging head and neck tumors.
- To investigate the biodistribution of 99Tcm (v) DMSA, specifically focusing on potential uptake in the pituitary gland.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-seven patients with suspected or confirmed head and neck malignancies were studied.
- Biodistribution of 99Tcm (v) DMSA was assessed in patients and 40 New Zealand white rabbits.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five percent (19/77) of patients with head and neck malignancy showed positive radioactivity accumulation in the pituitary gland region.
- This pituitary uptake was consistently observed in patients during follow-up after treatment.
- Animal studies in rabbits corroborated the accumulation of 99Tcm (v) DMSA in the pituitary gland.
Conclusions:
- The pituitary gland should be considered part of the normal biodistribution for 99Tcm (v) DMSA.
- This finding has implications for interpreting imaging studies using this agent in head and neck oncology.