Diagnostic value of 169Yb-cis-dichlorodimethionine platinum scintigraphy in patients with malignant lymphomas

Ytterbium-169 (169Yb) cis-dichlorodimethionine platinum (169Yb-PtCl2Meth2) is a new agent of low toxicity with an affinity for neoplastic tumours. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of 169Yb-PtCl2Meth2 scintigraphy in patients with malignant lymphomas. 169Yb-PtCl2Meth2 scintigraphy was performed in 67 patients with histologically proven malignant lymphoma. Liver, spleen, kidney and bone were among the normal tissues that showed uptake of the radiopharmaceutical. The compound is excreted in the main through the urinary tract. There was no significant activity in the bowels. For evaluation of the images, uptake of activity was scored according to a 5-point scale. In total, 888 sites were evaluated. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of lymphoma detection for the body as a whole was 80, 89 and 87%, respectively. The best results were obtained for the head (sensitivity 91%, specificity 89%), neck (sensitivity 84%, specificity 90%) and chest (sensitivity 82%, specificity 84%). In the sub-diaphragmatic region, sensitivity and specificity were 76 and 84%, respectively. Scintigraphy with 169Yb-PtCl2Meth2 appears to be a sensitive, non-invasive procedure for the staging of malignant lymphomas. The results suggest that it is possible to monitor the therapy of malignant lymphoma by means of 169Yb-PtCl2Meth2 scanning.