Clinical study of 99Tcm-N(NOEt)2 SPECT imaging in lung neoplasms

Objective: To explore the clinical value of 99Tcm-bis (N-ethoxy-N-ethyl dithiocarbamato)-nitrido [N(NOEt)2] SPECT for detecting the lung neoplasm. Methods: 99Tcm-N(NOEt)2 early planar, delay planar and SPECT imaging were performed on 38 patients suspected with lung neoplasm. The result was compared with pathological findings or clinical follow-up. Results: Twenty-nine patients (31 lesions) were found be with primary malignancy of lung, whereas 9 cases( 9 lesions) with benign diseases. Delayed 99Tcm-N(NOEt)2 SPECT showed positive uptake in 28 of 31 malignant lesions and in 3 of 9 benign lesions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, false positive rate, false negative rate, accuracy, positive likelihood value, and negative likelihood value obtained with 99Tcm-N(NOEt)2 SPECT for malignant lung tumor were 90.32%, 66.67%, 90.32%, 66.67%, 33.33%, 9.68%, 85.00%, 2.71 and 0.15, respectively. The T/N value of malignant nodules was 1.30 ± 0.19, the value of the benign lesions was 1.08 ±0.08, the difference was significant (t=3.38, P<0.01). Conclusion: This preliminary clinical study indicates that 99Tcm-N(NOEt)2 SPECT is of important value in detecting lung neoplasms