Abstract
Purpose: This study was to evaluate usefulness of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography for dense breast by comparing concordance in test results between Tc-99m MIBI scintimammography and mammography whose effect was proved the most as an imaging tool depending on breast density and at the same time by examining limitation on evaluation depending on density of breast tissue. [Materials and Methods] In the period from December 2010 to July 2011, this study targeted 150 patients who took both of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography and mammography conducted by using breast gamma camera in this hospital. Breast density was classified to the four levels of pattern 1~4 based on the results of mammography. $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography was conducted with the LCC, the RCC, the LMLO, and the RML one minute after intravenous injection of 99mTc-MIBI 7400 MBq (20 mCi) while analysis was made for concordance in test results of $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography and mammography. [Results] Among the 150 patients, pattern 1 was found in 3 patients, pattern 2 in 44 patients, pattern 3 in 61 patients, and pattern 4 in 37 patients. There were 5 patients who showed the case where it was impossible to determine density of breast tissue due to foreign body inserted to breast. The concordance ratio of the results between $^{99m}Tc$-MIBI scintimammography and mammography was 95.5% for pattern 2, 95.1% for pattern 3 and 94.6% for pattern 4. This demonstrated that the concordance rate decreased according to the increase in breast density. [Conclusion] When there was limitation on evaluation of breast specific gamma imaging test results due to increased intake in breast tissue or surgical site, the concordance rate was 6.8% for pattern 2, 16.3% for pattern 3 and 18.9% for pattern 4. This demonstrated that the degree of limitation on evaluation of breast specific gamma imaging test results increased according to the increase in breast density.
(Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul Asan Medical Center)