Tc-99m tetrofosmin accumulation in lung cancer and its metastases

Tc-99m tetrofosmin is a new myocardial-perfusion imaging agent that also has been used in the detection of various tumors. In this case, Tc-99m tetrofosmin imaging was performed in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the left lung. Increased uptake was observed in the primary tumor site and in its metastatic lesions (right mediastinal lymph nodes and brain). The primary tumor and its brain metastasis had been previously detected by chest x-ray and CT. Mediastinal lymph node involvement was later confirmed by mediastinoscopy. These findings suggest a possible role for Tc-99m tetrofosmin as a non-invasive method to evaluate patients with lung cancer.