Axillary metastases of an occult primary carcinoma of the breast-discovered only by 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy

Gynecol Oncol. 1999 Mar;72(3):418-20. doi: 10.1006/gyno.1998.5253.

Abstract

Recent reports consider 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy to be a powerful new diagnostic tool for discriminating malignant from benign breast disease. We report on a woman suffering from histologically confirmed axillary metastases of a primary unknown, occult carcinoma, whose origin was suspected within the breast. All the diagnostic procedures performed to discover any lesion failed or were inconclusive. The primary cancer was clearly visualized, however, in the right breast by means of 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy. Conclusion. We suggest that 99mTc-tetrofosmin scintigraphy is a powerful method to detect breast cancer, especially when other diagnostic imaging procedures are inconclusive.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Axilla
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / diagnostic imaging*
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / pathology
  • Organophosphorus Compounds*
  • Organotechnetium Compounds*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

Substances

  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Organotechnetium Compounds
  • technetium tc-99m tetrofosmin