Abstract for presentation at 38th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine 2008

Investigation of Incidental Findings of Lung Carcinoma in Thoracic SPECT/CT

  • Mark Dobson, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Dr Quee Li Chiam, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Andrew Nguyen, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, Australia
  • Dr Hugh Dixson, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia., Australia
  • Dr Kien Lee, Department of Nuclear Medicine & Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  • Dr Jeremy Hoang, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound, Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital, Australia

    • OBJECTIVE: To investigate incidental findings of lung carcinoma in nuclear medicine studies with SPECT/CT of the thoracic region.

    METHOD: 344 SPECT/CT scans were performed from July to December 2007 on the 6 slice Philips Precedence System. Of these 344 SPECT/CT scans, 281 SPECT/CT scans had at least part of the thoracic region imaged. All the SPECT/CT scans were performed with the CT primarily used for anatomic localisation and/or attenuation correction. None of the CTs were diagnostic chest CTs with breath hold and intravenous contrast. The SPECT/CT scans were reviewed by a dual qualified nuclear medicine / radiology specialist.

    RESULTS: Lung lesions suspicious of carcinoma were incidentally detected in 3 of the 281 with SPECT/CT of at least part of the thoracic region. One patient had the lung lesion confirmed to be early stage lung carcinoma with subsequent surgical resection with curative intent. The other two patients are undergoing further investigation for possible lung carcinoma.

    CONCLUSION: New hybrid state of the art SPECT/CT systems can be useful for incidentally detecting previously unsuspected lung carcinoma at an early stage and can have a dramatic favourable effect on patient outcomes.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd