Lack of clinical significance of gallium-67 uptake in non-small cell lung cancer.

To evaluate the clinical significance of tumor Ga-67 uptake, we studied 89 consecutive patients with a potentially resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by performing a whole body Ga-67 scan. For each scintigraphy, an overall Ga-67 accumulation index (T-N) and a volume independent index (T/Nr) were calculated. Both parameters were related to disease extent, response to subsequent treatment and host survival. With the exception of the significant correlations of T-N to both stage of disease and survival-the higher the T-N, the more advanced the disease and the worse the prognosis-no other relationship was found. Based on these findings, we conclude that, in NSCLC at least, gallium uptake is mainly dependent on tumor size and, therefore, of limited practical value.