Thoracic Lymph Node Scintiscan as a Diagnostic Test in Mediastinal Malignant Enlargement

Abstract

The visualization of certain thoracic lymph nodes by subcutaneous injection of colloidal gold (¹⁹⁸Au) consists of a simple and reliable examination in the differential diagnosis between an advanced central bronchogenic carcinoma and a mediastinal lymphatic tumor. In our study of 12 patients with central lung cancer and supraclavicular or subcarinal or mediastinal metastases according to the clinical stage of each patient, we found that: (a) in six cases there was no lymph node visualization on both sides; (b) in five cases there was poor or partial visualization on the affected side; (c) in one case there was no lymph node visualization on the affected side. Besides, in our study of nine patients with mediastinal lymphomas, the thoracic lymph nodes showed diffuse irregularities in the distribution of the radioactive colloidal gold (¹⁹⁸Au).