Value of gallium-67 scanning in differentiation of malignant tumors from benign tumors or inflammatory disease in the oral and maxillofacial region

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of gallium-67 (67Ga) scanning in the differentiation of malignant tumors from benign tumors or inflammatory disease in the oral and maxillofacial region. Study design. Fifty-two patients with tumors or inflammation in the oral and maxillofacial region underwent 67Ga scanning. The results were compared with the final pathologic diagnosis. Results. The gallium-67 scanning images for 20 of 21 patients who had malignant tumors were positive (95.23%); images for 3 out of 20 patients who had benign tumors also were positive (15%). There was a significant difference between malignant and benign tumors (P < .001). Images for 2 of 11 patients with chronic inflammatory lesions were positive (18.2%), but, unlike the images of malignant tumors, the image outlines of the inflammatory lesions were indistinct and larger than the actual lesions. Conclusion. 67Ga scanning is a useful adjunct tool for differentiation of malignant tumors from benign tumors or inflammatory disease in the oral and maxillofacial region.