Evaluation of planar scintigraphy with gallium-67 of the head and neck

The usefulness of planar scintigaraphy with gallium-67 of the head and neck was studied. This imaging technique was not helpful enough in detecting malignant tumor, in differentiationg it from begin tumors and in detecting matastasis to cervical lymph nodes for the following reasons : (1) In the distinction of malignant tumor from benign tumor, the false positive rate was relatively high. (2) Large primary lesions were overlooked in some cases examined. (3) This technique added to information on lymph node metastasis provided by palpation. Although this imaging technique allowed detection of tumor recurrences in some follow-up cases, the detection rate was not so high. In oatients who received radiation therapy, gallium-67 scintigraphy of the head and neck may resuslt in accumlation of gallium-67 in the salivary glands. In such cases, care is needed so as not to misdiagnose as recurrence or metastasis. To improve the usefulness of this imaging technique, divices such as combined use of SPECT(Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) or scintigraphy using ^<ppm>TcO_4^- especially for patients with salivary gland disease are necessfry.