[Bronchial carcinoma. Nuclear medical diagnosis]

The primary indication for scintigraphy in the patient with bronchogenic carcinoma occurs during therapy planning, when scintigrams are obtained to prognosticate post-operative lung function. Ventilation and perfusion scintigrams are the procedures of choice for regional evaluation of lung function. Numerous radioisotope procedures have been introduced for recognition and evaluation of bronchogenic malignancies. In spite of the array of interesting diagnostic approaches, nuclear medicine has failed to reach a prominent position in the diagnostic evaluation of these malignancies. The limits and special indications for using scintigraphic procedures are discussed.