Rahain Hussain1, John R Buscombe. 1. Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, BSM Medical University Campus, BAEC, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Scintimammography using (99m)Tc-labelled isonitriles, sestamibi and tetrofosmin, has become a mature technique in the adjunctive setting for the diagnosis of primary breast cancer. To establish an evidence base for its use, clinically, a meta-analysis was performed on both single-site and multi-centre trials performed since January 1997. METHODS: Using an on-line literature search all such trials containing 100 or more studies were identified. To prevent double counting of patients only the last published report from any centre was used. RESULTS: A total of 2424 patients were identified in the single-site trial group, the smallest study having 105 patients and the largest 353 patients. The overall sensitivity was 85% and the specificity was 84%. In the multi-centre trial studies, published data from 3049 patients were included. The overall sensitivity in this group was also 85% and the specificity was 83%. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that this is a robust imaging technique delivering high sensitivities and specificities in patients studied in both single-centre and multi-centre trials and, as such, can be relied on as an adjunctive method for the investigation of primary breast cancer.
BACKGROUND: Scintimammography using (99m)Tc-labelled isonitriles, sestamibi and tetrofosmin, has become a mature technique in the adjunctive setting for the diagnosis of primary breast cancer. To establish an evidence base for its use, clinically, a meta-analysis was performed on both single-site and multi-centre trials performed since January 1997. METHODS: Using an on-line literature search all such trials containing 100 or more studies were identified. To prevent double counting of patients only the last published report from any centre was used. RESULTS: A total of 2424 patients were identified in the single-site trial group, the smallest study having 105 patients and the largest 353 patients. The overall sensitivity was 85% and the specificity was 84%. In the multi-centre trial studies, published data from 3049 patients were included. The overall sensitivity in this group was also 85% and the specificity was 83%. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that this is a robust imaging technique delivering high sensitivities and specificities in patients studied in both single-centre and multi-centre trials and, as such, can be relied on as an adjunctive method for the investigation of primary breast cancer.
Authors: Nicholas A Shkumat; Adam Springer; Christopher M Walker; Eric M Rohren; Wei T Yang; Beatriz E Adrada; Elsa Arribas; Selin Carkaci; Hubert H Chuang; Lumarie Santiago; Osama R Mawlawi Journal: Med Phys Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 4.071