Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: value of bone and liver scintigraphy in the pre-treatment and follow-up period.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
1991-07-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a disease with a high potential of distant metastasis, especially to bone and liver. To evaluate the routine use of bone and liver scintigraphy in the evaluation of metastatic disease during the pre-treatment and follow-up period, 112 new cases of NPC were enrolled. The pre-treatment scintigraphs were performed at the time of staging evaluation, while the follow-up ones were performed once a year and whenever clinically indicated. At the pre-treatment period, 3/112 cases showed a true positive result, all at bony sites. At the 3 years follow-up, 10/83 and 8/83 cases respectively showed a true positive result in the bone and liver. All of the positive cases had definite symptoms and signs of metastases, which correlated well with the scintigraphic findings. All without clinical evidence showed a negative finding. Therefore, we conclude that, without clinical indication, routine bone and liver scintigraphy are of limited value.
Description
Chotmaihet Thangphaet.
Keywords
Citation
Kraiphibul P, Atichartakarn V, Clongsusuek P, Kulapaditharom B, Ratanatharathorn V, Chokewattanaskul P. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: value of bone and liver scintigraphy in the pre-treatment and follow-up period. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. 1991 Jul; 74(7): 276-9