Correlation between Histopathologic and Scintigraphic Findings (Employing 67 Ga) in Relation to the Surgical Indication for Bronchial Carcinoma

Following the investigation on the correlation between scintigraphic pictures and histopathologic findings in 66 patients with suspected bronchial carcinoma, 84% of the scannings were positive and the data relative to the so-called « false negative » cases was analyzed. The presence of hilar or mediastinal lymph node metastases, histologically ascertained in about one-third of the patients, appeared significant; and a restricted accumulation of the radio-element was evident in 70.5% of the cases. In 10 of the cases with negative scintigraphic findings, pictures of reactive or hyperplastic lymphadenitis (almost all radiologically relievable) were obtained. Therefore, if it cannot be logically concluded that the negative scintigraphic findings at the mediastinal level indicate the absence of metastases in the lymph nodes, thus indicating surgery (or preventive mediastinoscopy), positive finding seem to be synonymous with extrapulmonary diffusion of the neoplastic process, with direct implication in determining the operability of the patient.