TITLE:
The Role of Gallium (Ga-67) Scintigraphy in the Diagnosis of Sarcoidosis
AUTHORS:
A. B. Allard, J. Buscombe, D. P. Kidd
KEYWORDS:
Sarcoidosis, Neurosarcoidosis, Gallium Scintigraphy
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Research in Inflammation,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
30,
2014
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.