Tc-99m depreotide scintigraphy of breast carcinoma

A 67-year-old woman with history of benign bilateral breast biopsies was examined for a bloody nipple discharge from the right breast accompanied by erythema, swelling, and tenderness. A diagnostic mammogram performed on January 10, 2001 revealed a right retroareolar mass with skin thickening, nipple retraction, and right axillary lymph node enlargement. A right breast skin biopsy performed on the same day revealed infiltrating adenocarcinoma of mammary gland origin. A prone SPECT scintimammogram using Tc-99m depreotide performed on January 25, 2001 showed concordant increased uptake within the right retroareolar breast parenchyma and axillary lymph nodes. Preoperative evaluation of the neoplastic potential of breast lesions and presurgical staging of breast carcinoma using Tc-99m depreotide is promising and is being investigated at the authors' institution.