Hepatic cancer: Correlative imaging with radioimmunodetection, NMR, and TCT

The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of radioimmunodetection (RAID) imaging and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of hepatic tumors. Twelve consecutive patients with metastatic (11) or primary (1) carcinoma of the liver were imaged concurrently with labeled antibodies-to-tumor antigens and by nuclear magnetic resonance. Evidence of hepatic tumors was corrected with other diagnostic procedures including TCT. Eleven patients were imaged with I-131 labeled antibodies to CEA, CSAP and one with I-131 labeled antibodies to AFP. Polyclonal, monoclonal, and Fab'/sub 2/ antibodies were used. The preparation and labeling of the antibodies have been described previously. Each patient received 2-3 mCi of labeled antibodies and was imaged at 24 to 48 hrs. Nontarget radioactivity was diminished by other radionuclides simulating nontumor distribution using a computer subtraction technique. NMR images were obtained with a 0.15T resistive instrument. In all twelve patients hepatic tumor was diagnosed by RAID. Nine of the hepatic tumors were confirmed by other methods. NMR demonstrated four positive findings in these nine. Computerized tomography detected tumors in three of the nine patients at the time of the first RAID examination, and subsequently in one more patient when RAID and NMR examinations were performed concurrently. In this series of patients the detection of hepatic cancer by RAID showed twice the sensitivity of NMR or TCT