Gallium citrate Ga 67 scanning: clinical usefulness in lymphoma patients.

Gallium citrate Ga 67 (67Ga) scans were performed in 50 consecutive lymphoma patients who underwent routine staging. The overall accuracy of 67Ga scans was greater than 80% for all nodal sites except the spleen (68%). Sensitivity was greater than 88% in the neck and mediastinum, 67% in the abdomen-pelvis, and 33% for the spleen. Specificity was greater than 85% for all nodal sites except for the mediastinum (67%). The accuracy of pedal lymphangiograms was 75%, sensitivity 87%, and specificity 68%. Gallium 67 scans complemented the lymphogram in the abdomen-pelvis but, due to limited sensitivity and high number of equivocal studies (16%), did not replace it. Infraclavicular, pectoral, and mediastinal lesions were detected by 67Ga scans when missed by other means. In 20% to 25% of patients, 67Ga scans provided information not afforded by other diagnostic studies and are therefore considered an important staging procedure for lymphoma patients.