[Radioscintigraphic correlation in interstitial pneumopathy. Case presentations]

Radiological and scintigraphic findings in 82 patients (58 male, 24 female) were compared. The patients were hospitalised in 1981-86 with sarcoidosis (43 cases), silicosis (26), asbestosis (9) extrinsic allergic alveolitis (3), lung disease caused by hard metals (1). Gallium scintigraphy was positive in 61 patients (74.39%). More precisely, the response was positive in 57 cases in both analogic and quantitative terms and in 4 only quantitatively. The radiological (radiography and stratigraphy) finding was significant in 42 of the 61 gallium-positive cases and negative in the remaining 19. In the 21 gallium-negative cases (25.61%) the radiological finding was significant in 9, negative in 12. The study confirms the real value of gallium scintigraphy in the diagnosis and follow-up of interstitial lung disease in line with views presented in the recent literature.