Computer quantitation of gallium 67 lung uptake in crocidolite (blue asbestos) workers of Western Australia

Abstract

Pulmonary inflammation has been evaluated in 43 crocidolite-exposed asbestos (ASB) workers and 12 control subjects, using a quantitative index of gallium uptake (GI). The GI was compared with chest roentgenographs (CXRs) graded by the ILO classification. The ASB workers included 15 with asbestosis (CXR greater than or equal to 1/0), 19 with a normal CXR (CXR 0/0), and 9 with equivocal CXR changes (CXR 0/1). In individuals with asbestosis the GI was 3.6 +/- 0.3 (mean +/- SEM), P less than 0.01 compared with exposed patients without asbestosis. In exposed patients with equivocal CXR changes (0/1) the GI was 3.1 +/- 0.3, and in exposed patients with a normal CXR (0/0) the GI was 2.4 +/- 0.2. The GI for subjects without lung disease was 1.2 +/- 0.2, P less than 0.01 compared with exposed patients without asbestosis. The scans were scored independently by two observers, and the correlation coefficient of the two sets of GI was 0.95. These data demonstrate that subjects with crocidolite-induced asbestosis and exposed patients with equivocal CXR changes or a normal CXR have significantly increased GI.

Absolute quantitation of gallium-67 citrate accumulation in the lungs and its importance for the evaluation of disease activity in pulmonary sarcoidosis

“…With respect to the evaluation of alveolitis activity, accumulating hilar nodes should be avoided when delineating ROIs. A similar approach has been used by other authors (Hayes et al 1990).…”

“…The uptake of gallium-67 citrate in the lungs provides crucial information about the degree of activity of lung sarcoidosis (Alberts et al 1981;Beaumont et al 1982;Bisson et al 1983;Hayes et al 1990). Therefore, it is important that it be determined as precisely as possible (Bourguet et al 1986).…”

Molecular Imaging of Pulmonary Inflammation and Infection

“…SPET with 67 Ga-citrate has been applied for inflammatory disorders evolving in pulmonary fibrosis (e.g., idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis), for inhalational and occupational pulmonary diseases, (e.g., asbestosis, berylliosis, coal worker pneumoconiosis), collagen vascular diseases (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic sclerosis), and other noninfectious inflammatory disease, including pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, eosinophilic pneumonia, Wegener's granulomatosis, and eosinophilic granuloma [46][47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59].…”