Evaluation of carcinoma of the cervix using 111In-bleomycin

Indium-111 attached to bleomycin is useful in the scintigraphic localization of a variety of tumors. Since it does not normally accumulate in bowel and feces, it is superior to other radiopharmaceuticals, such as gallium-67 citrate, in the demonstration of abnormalities in the abdomen and pelvis. Twenty-eight patients with know carcinoma of the cervix were studied with whole body 111In-belomycin scans. Two "false-positive" scans were produced by local inflammation. Six "false-negative" scans were attributed to small tumors escaping scintigraphic detection. In the remaining 20 patients, scan findings correlated well with site and extent of the tumor as determined by other means. 111In-bleomycin scintiscanning may prove to be a highly useful adjunct in the evaluation of patients with carcinoma of the cervix.