Computer-assisted versus visual lung gallium-67 index in normal subjects and in patients with interstitial lung disorders.

The pulmonary uptake of 87Ga citrate has been proposed as an index that assists clinical decision-making in patients with certain interstitial lung diseases. Such use, however, requires definition of the range of normal values, the range of values in patients with various interstitial diseases, and interobserver and intraobserver variability. We studied 9 normal subjects and 15 patients with interstitial lung diseases. The 87Ga indexes were determined by visual analysis and by a computer-assisted method. We found that the variation among experienced observers in visual index values was substantial in both normal subjects and patients, and that the computer-assisted indexes were less variable. These data suggest that if this approach is to be used in clinical decision-making: (1) the variability of visual indexes, and of normal values, should be recognized; (2) consideration should be given to a less subjective, computer-assisted method of index calculation; (3) each institution should establish standardized methodology and consider determination of its range of variability and normal index values.