Efficacy of radionuclide scanning in patients with lung cancer.

Ninety-two patients with histologically proved carcinoma of the lung were studied retrospectively to determine the usefulness of liver, brain, and bone imaging in their examination and treatment. Occult metastatic liver disease was observed in two (5.3%) of 38 asymptomatic patients, while four (6.6%) of 58 neurologically intact patients had abnormal brain scans. Eight (13.6%) of 59 asymptomatic patients had metastatic bone disease. Seven (18.4%) of 38 patients with no clinical evidence of metastatic disease to liver, brain, or bone had at least one type of abnormal radionuclide study. More than half (52.5%) of the patients studied had at least one abnormal scan exclusive of symptoms. Radionuclide imaging is a useful procedure in the initial evaluation and subsequent management of lung cancer.