BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to assess the value of scintimammography using Tc-99m sestamibi in the evaluation of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIAL ANS METHODS: Results were calculated for 9 patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Scintimammography using 740 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi was performed before, during and after chemotherapy, and sestamibi uptake was scored visually and semiquantitatively to evaluate tumor response. RESULTS: In the case of complete response (n = 3) sestamibi uptake decreased 8 days after beginning neoadjuvant chemotherapy and normalized in the following course. Focal uptake decreased more slowly in patients with partial response (n = 3), who showed clear, persisting tracer accumulation after therapy. The patients without response (n = 3) showed a persisting high tumor activity even after chemotherapy was completed. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary data suggest that in contrast to other imaging modalities scintimammography appears to yield early information regarding tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Copyright 2003 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg
BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to assess the value of scintimammography using Tc-99m sestamibi in the evaluation of tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIAL ANS METHODS: Results were calculated for 9 patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Scintimammography using 740 MBq Tc-99m sestamibi was performed before, during and after chemotherapy, and sestamibi uptake was scored visually and semiquantitatively to evaluate tumor response. RESULTS: In the case of complete response (n = 3) sestamibi uptake decreased 8 days after beginning neoadjuvant chemotherapy and normalized in the following course. Focal uptake decreased more slowly in patients with partial response (n = 3), who showed clear, persisting tracer accumulation after therapy. The patients without response (n = 3) showed a persisting high tumor activity even after chemotherapy was completed. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary data suggest that in contrast to other imaging modalities scintimammography appears to yield early information regarding tumor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Copyright 2003 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg