[Experiences with the 32P test in tumor diagnosis]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Oncology

Background:

• The phosphorus-32 (32P) test has been utilized for diagnosing intraocular tumors.
• Assessing the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the 32P test is crucial for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the 32P test in a series of intraocular tumor cases.
• To review existing literature on the reliability and methodologies of the 32P test.
• To highlight the risks associated with 32P testing and advocate for alternative methods.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 186 phosphorus-32 (32P) tests on patients with suspected intraocular tumors.
• Defined positive test results as radiation increases exceeding 30% compared to tumor-free areas.
• Histologically examined 95 eyes to confirm diagnoses and assess test accuracy.

Main Results:

• The 32P test demonstrated high accuracy, with 95% correct diagnoses.
• Achieved 90 correct positive and 1 correct negative result.
• Identified 2 false positive and 2 false negative results among the tested cases.

Conclusions:

• The 32P test offers significant diagnostic accuracy for intraocular tumors.
• Potential risks associated with 32P necessitate caution in its application.
• Development of noninvasive nuclear-medical diagnostic methods is recommended to improve patient safety.