Potential Applications of Using 68Ga-Evans Blue PET/CT in the Evaluation of Lymphatic Disorder: Preliminary Observations

Clin Nucl Med. 2016 Apr;41(4):302-8. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000001171.

Abstract

Purpose: Potentials of 68Ga-NEB as a PET tracer in the evaluation of a variety of lymphatic drainage disorders were analyzed.

Methods: 68Ga-NEB was injected subcutaneously, and the PET/CT images were acquired in 13 patients with different suspected lymphatic drainage abnormality. The 68Ga-NEB PET/CT findings were compared with Tc-SC lymphoscintigraphy.

Results: 68Ga-NEB activity could be clearly observed in the lymphatic route on the PET/CT images from all the patients. In 5 (38.5%) of 13 patients tested, 68Ga-NEB PET/CT provided more information than the Tc-SC lymphoscintigraphy.

Conclusions: 68Ga-NEB PET/CT can be used as an alternative of Tc-SC lymphoscintigraphy in the evaluation of lymphatic disorders, which enables fast results and might be more accurate than the conventional Tc-SC lymphoscintigraphy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Coordination Complexes*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Vessels / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphedema / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphoscintigraphy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography*
  • Radiopharmaceuticals*
  • Technetium
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • 68Ga-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N',N''-triacetic acid
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Technetium