Adenocarcinoma of the lung with marked uptake of 99mTc-pertechnetate: case report.

Following biopsy of a hilar mass, a heart scan performed with 99mTc-pertechnetate showed intense uptake in the mass. The degree of radionuclide concentration suggested that the mass was glandular tissue, most likely an adenoma or adenocarcinoma. Biopsy revealed a mucinsecreting adenocarcinoma. Review of the literature showed examples of active glandular concentration of pertechnetate in the thyroid, gastric mucosa, breast, lacrimal glands, and colon. This case provides an example of reasoning by which the scan interpretation came closer to the actual tissue diagnosis than is usually possible.