Ga-67 inguinal lymph node imaging in patients with sarcoidosis: a third typical common pattern.

Abstract

Seventy-eight consecutive whole body Ga-67 scintigrams of 74 patients with sarcoidosis were evaluated. The diagnosis of sarcoidosis was confirmed mainly by lymph node biopsies, and, in some patients, with skin, mucosal, lacrimal gland, salivary gland, and transbronchial lung biopsies, supported by typical x-ray findings or elevated SACE levels. The scintigrams were performed either during an initial diagnostic work-up or at follow-up after disease reactivation. In 32 patients (41%), inguinal lymph node uptake was seen. A symmetric bilateral inguinal lymph node pattern was seen in 25 patients (33%). This symmetric inguinal pattern was observed with typical Panda and/or Lambda patterns in 9 patients, with an atypical appearance in 13 patients, and with neither of these patterns in 3 patients. The typical symmetric inguinal lymph node Ga-67 uptake may help in the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, especially in cases of atypical Lambda and Panda patterns.