Biomedical subjects

Albert Kao

Publications and source records attributed to Albert Kao.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Discordance between dipyridamole technetium-99m-sestamibi myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography and two-dimensional echocardiography in Kawasaki disease--a preliminary report.

This study attempts to establish a noninvasive diagnostic method for early assessment of cardiac involvement in Kawasaki disease (KD), 36 children with KD were studied. The presence of abnormal coronary arteries (CA) with aneurysms was determined by experienced pediatric cardiologists using two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-Echo). Rest and dipyridamole-stress technetium-99m sestamibi (Tc-MIBI) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed on the 36 children with KD for the assessment of myocardial perfusion and for comparison with 2D-Echo findings. The results showed that (1) 17/36 (47.2%) of the cases had no aneurysm and 19/36 (52.8%) had significant aneurysms; (2) 16/36 (44.4%) of the cases had normal myocardial perfusion and 20/36 (55.6%) had myocardial perfusion defects; (3) 9/36 (25.0%) cases showed both normal 2D-Echo and Tc-MIBI SPECT findings and 12/36 (33.3%) showed both abnormal 2D-Echo and Tc-MIBI SPECT findings; and (4) There was poor agreement between 2D-Echo and Tc-MIBI SPECT findings (kappa-value = 0.161, p = 0.332). We concluded that the most of the KD children had aneurysms or abnormal myocardial perfusion. However, poor agreement exists between 2D-Echo and Tc-MIBI SPECT findings with aneurysms and abnormal myocardial perfusion in patients with KD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Discordance between dipyridamole stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography and coronary angiography in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute vasculitis syndrome of unknown etiology that mainly affects the coronary arteries. The purpose of this study was to assess the agreement between dipyridamole stress technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and coronary angiography in these patients. Twenty-nine children with KD were included in this study. All of the 29 children also received dipyridamole stress Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT within 1 month of their coronary angiographic studies. The results showed that (1) 89.7% of children had negative coronary angiographic findings without significant coronary stenoses, and 10.3% of children had positive coronary angiographic findings with significant coronary stenosis; (2) 44.8% of children had negative Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings without abnormal myocardial perfusion, and 55.2% of children had positive Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings with abnormal myocardial perfusion; (3) 44.8% of children had both normal coronary angiographic and Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings, and 10.3% of children had both abnormal coronary angiographic and Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings; and (4) There was no significant agreement between coronary angiographic and Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings. We concluded that poor agreement exists between coronary angiographic and Tc-TF myocardial perfusion SPECT findings with coronary stenoses and abnormal myocardial perfusion in children with KD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Using technetium 99m tetrofosmin parathyroid imaging to detect parathyroid adenoma and its relation to P-glycoprotein expression.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate technetium 99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) uptake in parathyroid adenomas and compare the results with their expression of multidrug resistance-mediated 170-kDa P-glycoprotein (Pgp). METHODS: Twenty patients with larger parathyroid adenomas (> 1.5 g) and the other 40 patients with smaller parathyroid adenomas (0.5-1.5 g) underwent early and delayed (10-minute and 2-hour) Tc-TF parathyroid imaging before operation. In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical analyses were performed on multiple nonconsecutive sections of the 40 parathyroid adenomas and 40 normal control specimens (20 normal parathyroid glands and 20 normal thyroid specimens) to detect Pgp expression. RESULTS: The Tc-TF parathyroid image accurately localized 17 larger and 16 smaller parathyroid adenomas, but not the remaining 3 larger and 4 smaller adenomas. The 17 larger and 16 smaller parathyroid adenomas with significant Tc-TF uptake on the delayed 2-hour parathyroid images revealed negative Pgp expression, but the 3 larger and 4 smaller adenomas without significant Tc-TF uptake, as well as 20 normal parathyroid glands and 20 normal thyroid specimens, revealed positive Pgp expression. CONCLUSIONS: Not only the size of parathyroid adenomas, but Pgp expression also limited the sensitivity of Tc-TF parathyroid image to localize parathyroid adenomas before the operation.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed2002

Comparison of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile scintimammography and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of breast cancer in patients with mammographically dense breast.

The main purpose of this study was to compare the utility of technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m sestamibi) scintimammography with that of ultrasonography for diagnosis of breast cancer in 32 female patients with indeterminate mammographic probability of malignancy because of mammographically dense breast. All breast masses were removed and histopathological diagnosis was obtained in all cases. The results showed 20 of 24 cases of breast carcinoma detected on Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography. Only one out of eight patients with benign breast lesion had abnormal scintimammographic finding. Ultrasonography diagnosed 22 of the 24 cases of breast carcinoma. However, five out of eight patients with benign breast lesion had positive ultrasonographic findings. In differentiating malignant and benign breast tumors in mammographically dense breast, the diagnostic sensitivities were 83 and 92%, specificities were 88 and 38%, and accuracies were 84 and 78% for Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography and ultrasonography, respectively. Ultrasonography showed a nonsignificantly higher sensitivity (p < 0.05), but lower specificity, with more false-positive diagnoses made on ultrasonography. Due to its higher sensitivity, ultrasonography is more suitable for screening breast masses. However, Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography exhibited significantly higher specificity (p < 0.05) and accuracy in detecting malignant breast tumors in the current study. We conclude that Tc-99m sestamibi scintimammography is a safe and useful diagnostic method for detection of breast cancer in patients with nondiagnostic mammogram because of mammographically dense breast.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Prediction of chemotherapy response in untreated malignant lymphomas using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile scan: comparison with P-glycoprotein expression and other prognostic factors. A preliminary peport.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to predict chemotherapy response in untreated malignant lymphomas using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-MIBI) scan. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with malignant lymphoma were studied before receiving chemotherapy. Early Tc-MIBI scan was performed 10 min after intravenous injection of Tc-MIBI. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on multiple non-consecutive sections of the biopsy specimens to determine Pgp expression. Chemotherapy response was evaluated in the first 1-2 years after completion of treatment by clinical and radiological methods. RESULTS: The mean tumor-to-background ratio of the 15 patients with good response (3.3 +/- 0.6) was significantly higher than that of the 10 patients with poor response (1.2 +/- 0.1). Among the 15 patients with good response to chemotherapy, all had positive Tc-MIBI scan results but negative Pgp expression. Among the 10 patients who had poor response to chemotherapy, all 10 had negative Tc-MIBI scan, but six patients had positive Pgp expression and four had negative Pgp expression. Significant differences were found in the incidences of good and poor responses determined by Tc-MIBI scan and Pgp expression. However, there were no significant differences in the incidences of good and poor responses for other prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Compared with other prognostic factors, early Tc-MIBI scan more accurately predicts chemotherapy response in patients with malignant lymphoma.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed2002

Comparison of radionuclide imaging and ultrasonography in the differentiation of acute testicular torsion and inflammatory testicular disease.

PURPOSE: Torsion of the testis is a urologic emergency that requires early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment for testicular survival. However, the early differential diagnosis of acute testicular torsion from epididymitis or orchitis is often difficult. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate and compare the value of Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging and ultrasonography in the differentiation of acute testicular torsion and inflammatory testicular diseases. METHODS: Twenty patients (age range, 5 to 38 years) with possible acute testicular torsion from July 2000 to July 2001 were enrolled in this study. Ultrasonography was performed in all patients in the emergency room. Within 3 hours of ultrasonography, radionuclide imaging was also performed after intravenous injection of 5 to 15 mCi Tc-99m pertechnetate in the forearms. All of the patients with clinically suspected acute testicular torsion underwent surgery. The surgical findings and pathologic reports of these patients were reviewed and definite diagnoses were established. None of the other patients had surgery and were followed clinically for at least 1 month after ultrasonography and radionuclide imaging. RESULTS: Four patients with testicular torsion, 13 patients with inflammatory testicular disease, and three healthy persons had a final surgical and pathologic diagnosis or clinical follow-up, and all were accurately diagnosed by Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging. In contrast, ultrasonography was less accurate in the diagnosis and differentiation of acute testicular torsion from inflammation. Only 1 of 4 patients with testicular torsion, 5 of 13 patients with inflammatory testicular disease, and 2 of 3 healthy persons were diagnosed by ultrasonography. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that Tc-99m pertechnetate radionuclide imaging is a more useful and accurate imaging method than ultrasonography in the detection and differentiation of acute testicular torsion from inflammatory testicular disease in patients with acute scrotal pain.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2002

Decreased cerebral blood flow in neuro-Behçet's syndrome patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations and normal magnetic resonance imaging--a preliminary report.

Involvement of the brain is one of the most important complications of Behçet's disease, but its diagnosis is difficult because of the lack of effective imaging tools. Therefore, technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (Tc-99m ECD) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain was used to detect abnormal regional cerebral blood flow in patients with neuro-Behçet's syndrome (NBS). Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT was performed to detect hypoperfusion areas of the brain in 10 NBS patients with definite neuropsychiatric symptoms or signs and normal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT demonstrated hypoperfusion areas of the brain in all of the 10 NBS patients. The parietal lobes were the most common areas with hypoperfusion lesions. Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT is a more sensitive and useful tool than brain MRI for detecting hypoperfusion areas of the brain in NBS patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Correlation of abnormal response of left ventricular ejection fraction after exercise and left ventricular cavity-to-myocardium count ratio of technetium-99m-tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography in patients with coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of the left ventricular cavity-to-myocardium count ratio (C/M ratio) of technetium-99m (Tc-99m) tetrofosmin single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to identify abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) responses after exercise in patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD). We studied 50 patients with recent CAD undergoing rest and exercise first-pass ventriculography to calculate LVEF and rest and exercise Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion SPECT to calculate left ventricular C/M ratios. Group A, consisting of 25 CAD patients with normal responses (increased LVEF> or =5% after exercise), had significantly higher rest and exercise C/M ratios than those of the group B, consisting of 25 CAD patients with abnormal responses (increased LVEF <5% after exercise) after exercise. However, the C/M ratios between exercise and rest did not differ significantly between groups A and B. In addition, there was significant correlation between LVEF and C/M ratios in all of the patients. C/M ratios of Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion SPECT are useful parameters for identifying patients with abnormal LVEF responses among patients with CAD.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Exercise and rest technetium-99m-tetrofosmin lung uptake: correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with coronary artery disease.

Increased lung uptake of thallium-201 (Tl-201) and technetium-99m (Tc-99m) MIBI in myocardial perfusion imaging is a reliable marker of left ventricular dysfunction. The goal of our study was to establish whether the lung-to-heart (L/H) uptake ratio with a newer cardiac imaging agent, Tc-99m tetrofosmin, can also provide valuable information about left ventricular function. We studied 60 patients with recent coronary artery diseases (CAD) undergoing first-pass radionuclide ventriculography to calculate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial perfusion imaging to calculate the L/H ratio. Group A consisting of 30 CAD patients with higher LVEF (> or =40%) had a significantly lower L/H ratio than group B consisting of 30 CAD patients with abnormal LVEF (<40%) during exercise and rest. In groups A and B, the exercise and rest L/H ratios did not differ significantly. However, a statistically significant inverse correlation was found between the L/H ratio and LVEF during exercise and rest among the 60 patients. L/H ratios, measured by 99mTc-tetrofosmin imaging, provide clinically useful information with which to predict left ventricular dysfunction in CAD patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of techntium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime lung scan to detect subclinical lung injury in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

In this study, we employed techntium-99m hexamethylpropylene amine oxime (Tc-99m HMPAO) lung scan to detect subclinical lung injury of patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who had normal chest X-ray findings (CXR) and pulmonary function test (PFT). The degree of pulmonary vascular endothelium damage was represented as lung/liver uptake ratios (L/L ratios) calculated by Tc-99m HMPAO lung scan. The L/L ratios of the 20 male NIDDM patients with normal CXR and PFT were compared with those of the 20 male normal controls. The results show that the L/L ratios on Tc-99m HMPAO lung scan were significantly higher in NIDDM patients than those in normal controls. Using a cutoff value of 0.50, 17 of the 20 (85%) NIDDM patients had abnormally increased L/L ratios. Our findings concluded that the pulmonary vascular endothelium damage represented as significantly increased L/L ratios on Tc-99m HMPAO lung scan in NIDDM patients with normal CXR and PFT. In addition, Tc-99m HMPAO lung scan has the potential to be a sensitive, objective, and noninvasive method to detect subclinical lung injury of patients with NIDDN, which are different from the traditional studies such as CXR or CFT.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Impaired salivary function in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with xerostomia.

To test this hypothesis, salivary function was measured by quantitative salivary scintigraphy in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients, as well as in age- and sex-matched controls for comparison. Seventy-two patients with NIDDM history of over 10 years and 36 healthy age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled in the study. All of the 72 NIDDM patients had good blood sugar control. None presented with autonomic neuropathy. These 72 NIDDM patients were separated into two subgroups. Group 1: 36 patients with xerostomia and Group 2: 36 patients without xerostomia. After intravenous injection of 5mCi Tc-99m pertechnetate, sequential images at 1 min/frame were acquired for 30 min. The 1st and 15th minute uptake ratios (UR) were calculated from the tracer uptakes in the four major salivary glands over the background regions of interest. Saliva excretion was stimulated by one tablet of 200 mg ascorbic acid given orally 15-min postinjection of the tracer. Then, the maximal excretion ratios (ER) of the four major salivary glands after sialagogue stimulation were calculated. Significantly poorer salivary function was found, represented by significantly decreased UR and ER values, in 36 NIDDM patients with xerostomia, when compared with 36 NIDDM patients without xerostomia and 36 healthy controls, via objective and quantitative salivary scintigraphy. It has been speculated that impaired salivary function contributes to NIDDM with xerostomia. However, further studies with a larger series of NIDDM patients are necessary to confirm our findings.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evidence of impaired gallbladder function in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus by quantitative cholescintigraphy.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is considered to predispose impaired gallbladder function and an increased prevalence of gallbladder disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gallbladder function of patients with NIDDM by quantitative technetium-99m-labeled imino-diacetic acid analogue (Tc-99m DISIDA) cholescintigraphy. One hundred and forty-five NIDDM patients (100 males, 45 females; age: 58.7+/-9.5 years) with the absence of autonomic or peripheral neuropathy and without gallbladder or liver disorders were enrolled in this study. The patients were categorized by blood sugar control (HbA(1c)> or =10% as a poor blood sugar control group and HbA(1c)<10% as a good blood sugar control group) and disease duration (diabetic duration > or =10 years as a longer-duration group and diabetic duration <10 years as a shorter-duration group). In addition, 60 normal controls (38 males, 22 females; age: 59.1+/-10.2 years) were also studied for comparison. All NIDDM patients and normal controls underwent Tc-99m DISIDA cholescintigraphy, and the filling fraction (FF) and ejection fraction (EF) of gallbladder were calculated. The results showed significant difference between (1) NIDDM patients versus normal controls in FF and EF, (2) poor versus good blood sugar control of NIDDM patients in FF and EF, and (3) longer versus shorter disease duration of NIDDM patients in FF and EF. Our study, including a large number of subjects, showed that gallbladder function of patients with NIDDM is more impaired than the normal controls; and impaired gallbladder function in NIDDM patients is related to disease duration and blood sugar control.

Blood Glucose↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of captopril renography to predict the benefits of renal artery revascularization or captopril treatment in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy.

This retrospective study aimed to use captopril renography (CR) for predicting the benefits of captopril treatment in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy. CR was utilized in 60 hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy for detecting the probability of renovascular hypertension (RVH) and predicting the benefits of renal artery revascularization or captopril treatment. Ten of the 60 patients showed a high probability of RVH with marked changes of the renogram curve after an oral intake of 50-mg captopril compared to baseline findings. All of the 10 patients confirmed significant main renal artery stenosis in all of them, bilaterally in four patients and unilaterally in the remaining six patients by renal angiographic findings. After successful revascularization, blood pressure was well controlled and renal function was preserved in all of the 10 patients. The other 50 patients showed a low or intermediate probability of RVH with normal findings or unchanged on CR after 50-mg captopril. Then, captopril alone or combination treatment started and continued on 50 patients. After monitoring for at least 6 months, blood pressure was well controlled and renal function was preserved in all the 50 patients on captopril treatment. We conclude that CR should be considered as the standard diagnostic criteria of RVH and may be helpful in predicting the beneficial impact of captopril treatment in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Age of Onset↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Using Tc-99m DMSA renal cortex scan to detect renal damage in women with type 2 diabetes.

Women with diabetes mellitus (DM) have urinary tract infection (UTI) more often than women without DM. It is unknown, however, what the prevalence and type of renal damage due to UTI is in these women. Therefore, in this study, we compared type 2 DM women with or without UTI history for the prevalence and type of renal damage by technetium-99m dimercapto-succinic acid (Tc-99m DMSA) renal scan. A total of 128 type 2 DM women with or without UTI history received Tc-99m DMSA renal scan were included in this study. The patients were separated into three groups: (1) 43 patients without UTI history, (2) 42 patients with only lower UTI (cystitis) history and (3) 43 patients with upper UTI (pyelonephritis) history. The renal scan findings were separated into three types: (A) normal, (B) inflammation and (C) scar. The 31.9% (50/128) of type 2 DM patients had renal damages. Group 1 patients had a significantly lower prevalence of renal damages including inflammation and scar as compared to Groups 2 and 3 patients. In addition, the prevalence of renal damage was significantly higher in Group 3 than in Group 2 patients. Renal scars only were visualized in Group 3 patients. However, other clinical data were not statistically different among the three group patients. Type 2 DM women with UTI history, especially if they had upper UTI have a significantly higher prevalence of renal damage than in those without UTI.

Biological Transport↗

PubMedDate not supplied

High prevalence of asymptomatically poor muscle perfusion of lower extremities measured in type II diabetes patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion.

Foot problems are the most common cause of hospital admission in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (DM). Poor muscle perfusion of lower extremities is thought to be the major component in the pathogenesis of foot problems. Therefore, it is important and interesting to investigate if high prevalence of poor muscle perfusion of lower extremities in type II DM patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion and more cardiovascular risk factors. We used a well-established and noninvasive radionuclide method (Xe-133 muscle washout) to objectively evaluate the anterior tibial muscle perfusion of 60 type II DM male patients without symptoms/signs of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) in the lower extremities. The patients were separated into groups according to the myocardial perfusion imaging results and cardiovascular risk factor survey. Meanwhile, 30 normal male controls with a matched age distribution were also included for comparison. The muscle perfusions were of significant difference (P-values <.05) between (1) 60 type II DM patients (1.84+/-0.43 ml/100 g/min) and 30 normal controls (2.95+/-0.52 ml/100 g/min), (2) 24 patients with abnormal myocardial perfusion (1.31+/-0.45 ml/100 g/min) and 36 patients with normal myocardial perfusion (2.24+/-0.48 ml/100 g/min), as well as (3) 28 patients with more cardiovascular risk factors (1.33+/-0.46 ml/100 g/min) and 22 patient with less cardiovascular risk factors (2.22+/-0.49 ml/100 g/min). Based on Xe-133 muscle washout method, we concluded that the muscle perfusion in the lower extremities of type II DM patients without symptoms/signs of PVD is significantly decreased and related to abnormal myocardial perfusion and more cardiovascular risk factors.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Usefulness of thallium-201 muscle perfusion scan to investigate perfusion reserve in the lower limbs of Type 2 diabetic patients.

This study evaluated the usefulness of thallium-201 muscle perfusion scan (Tl-201 muscle scan) to investigate perfusion reserve in the lower limbs of asymptomatic Type 2 diabetic patients without peripheral ischemia findings. Tl-201 muscle scan was carried out in 36 diabetic male patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus of more than 10 years in duration who had no evidence of peripheral arterial disease in their history, physical examination, or Doppler ultrasonography. A control group consisted of 24 healthy age-matched nondiabetic men. Each subject flexed their right foot maximally both dorsally and plantar 60 times. In the middle of this exercise, 2mCi Tl-201 was injected intravenously. Three minutes after the injection, a posterior image of both calves was obtained using a gamma camera. Rectangular regions of interest (ROIs) were symmetrically drawn over both calves. The total count (Ct) in the resting calf was subtracted from the Ct in the exercising calf, and the percentage increase, termed the perfusion reserve, was determined. A significant difference was found between the perfusion reserves of the Type 2 diabetic patients and control groups (70.2+/-10.7% and 98.6+/-9.4%, respectively; P<.05). In conclusion, the perfusion reserve in the lower limb muscles in Type 2 diabetic patients may be measured by Tl-201 muscle perfusion scan.

Body Mass Index↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Technetium-99m tetrofosmin SPECT predicts chemotherapy response in small cell lung cancer.

The multidrug resistance gene 1 encoding human P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is thought to play an important role in the multidrug resistance of lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to predict chemotherapy response by technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-99m TF) lung single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and compare Pgp expression in patients with untreated small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Forty patients with untreated SCLC received Tc-99m TF lung SPECT prior to chemotherapy. The chemotherapy response was evaluated in the 3rd month after completion of treatment. Immunohistochemical staining of Pgp expression was performed on multiple nonconsecutive sections of biopsy specimens. By quantitative analyses, tumor to background ratios were 1.86 +/- 0.27 and 1.17 +/- 0.26 for patients with a good and poor response, respectively (p < 0.05). All of the 20 patients with a good chemotherapy response also had a positive Tc-99m TF lung SPECT and negative Pgp expression. In contrast, only 4 of the 20 patients with a poor chemotherapy response had a positive Tc-99m TF lung SPECT. Moreover, 10 of the 20 patients with a poor chemotherapy response also had negative Pgp expression (p < 0.05). Therefore, we concluded that Tc-99m TF lung SPECT can accurately predict the chemotherapy response, and Tc-99m TF lung SPECT findings can be partially compatible with Pgp expression in patients with untreated SCLC.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Using technetium-99m-tetrofosmin scan to predict chemotherapy response of malignant lymphomas, compared with P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance related protein expression.

The ability of technetium-99m tetrofosmin (Tc-TF) scan to predict chemotherapy response in malignant lymphomas (ML) was compared with the predictive ability of P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and multidrug resistance related protein (MRP) expression. Before chemotherapy, 25 ML patients were enrolled in this study. Scans were performed 10 min after intravenous injection of Tc-TF. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on ML specimen sections to evaluate Pgp and MRP expression. Chemotherapy response was evaluated in the first 1-2 years after completion of chemotherapy. Based on Tc-TF scan results, the mean tumor-to-background (T/B) ratio of the 15 patients with good response (3.23 +/- 0.56) was significantly higher than that of the 10 patients with poor response (1.18 +/- 0.11). All 15 patients with good response had positive Tc-TF scan results but negative Pgp and MRP expression. All 10 patients with poor response had negative Tc-TF scan results but positive Pgp or MRP expression. No significant differences in the incidences of good and poor response results were found for patients with Hodgkin's disease versus non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with stage I-II versus stage III-IV, with age > 40 versus age < or = 40 years, or with B symptoms versus without B symptoms. Tc-TF scan results, which may represent either Pgp or MRP expression, accurately predict chemotherapy response in patients with ML.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗