Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Malignant Lymphomas

Although radioisotope techniques are widely used for tumour diagnosis, little attention has been paid to their use in the diagnosis of the lymphomata. This paper describes preliminary investigation into the use of scanning techniques in Hodgkins disease. Liver scans were useful in determining more accurately the size and position of the liver and, occasionally, in finding actual localized involvement. Diffuse disease posed particular difficulties but diagnosis was often possible by the use of serial scans when there was an alteration in size or pattern of uptake of colloid. Spleen scans were mainly useful in determining the exact size of the organ. Actual tumour involvement was rarely seen. Attempts at assessing early involvement by rioting uptake of colloid, or the rate of uptake of denatured red cells, were made but they were of limited value in this disease. (author)