Scintigraphic patterns of gallium-67 uptake in the breast

A review of 542 67Ga scans was undertaken to determine the incidence of 67Ga uptake in the "normal" breast, to establish factors modifying the uptke of 67Ga, and to define patterns of "normal" vs. pathologic accumulation. Nonpathologic uptake of 67Ga was demonstrated in 29 patients (12% of female patients) and was most often associated with conditions stimulating prolactin production or related to estrogenic hormone administration. This type of uptake was symmetrical but of varying pattern depending on the underlying stimulus. Pathologic uptake of 67Ga was demonstrated in 3 cases and always resulted in asymmetrical appearance of the breasts.