Scintigraphic discrimination of infections from cancer with 67Ga citrate and sup(99m)Tc pertechnetate

A paralleled study was carried out on lung cancer and infectious lesions by scintigraphy with 67Ga citrate and sup(99m)Tc pertechnetate. Malignancies were Ga-positive but Tc-negative whilest infective lesions were positive with both radioisotopes. The technic is simple and yet unique in that it employs radioisotopic uptake ratios which were computed by recording radioactivity over such lesions and over appropriate control sites. This technic may offer a prompt and prospective means of making a differential diagnosis of lung cancer and active lung abscesses. Confirmative value of lesion to control region counting ratio was also emphasized. (auth.)