The Role of Gallium (Ga-67) Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis

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DOI: 10.4236/mri.2014.33012    6,409 Downloads   8,151 Views  Citations

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To identify and interrogate the role of Gallium-67 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of Sarcoidosis. Methods: A retrospective study of 75 patients with suspected Sarcoidosis in a large teaching hospital with a specialist Sarcoidosis Centre. Results: Ga-67 scintigraphy in patients considered on clinical grounds to have Sarcoidosis is a useful and sensitive test, and furthermore, by relaxing the interpretation of gallium scintigraphy sensitivity may be increased (from 20% to 80%) for a relatively small drop in specificity. Conclusions: The sensitivity of diagnostic power may be increased with a change in diagnostic criteria at the expense of only a small drop in specificity. In the context of Neurosarcoidosis, our results support the theory that Ga-67 scintigraphy has value in identifying potential, asymptomatic biopsy sites outside of the CNS that may not be identified by other forms of imaging.

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Allard, A. , Buscombe, J. and Kidd, D. (2014) The Role of Gallium (Ga-67) Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis. Modern Research in Inflammation, 3, 99-107. doi: 10.4236/mri.2014.33012.

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