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Comparative Study
. 1992;19(2):80-5.
doi: 10.1007/BF00184121.

Quantitative pulmonary gallium scanning in interstitial lung disease

S C Ramsay  1 , M G Yeates, W M Burke, D H Bryant, G W Morgan, S N Breit
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Quantitative pulmonary gallium scanning in interstitial lung disease

S C Ramsay et al. Eur J Nucl Med. 1992.

Abstract

The mechanisms responsible for gallium uptake in chronic, non-infective, diffuse lung disease are not completely understood. This study attempted to clarify some of them. A lung/liver gallium index was calculated in 113 subjects, some normal and some with various interstitial lung diseases, predominantly those associated with connective tissue disease. The mean gallium index was significantly higher in the groups with active interstitial lung disease (5.7) and non-infective bronchiolitis (4.1) compared with non-smoking normals (3.0; P less than 0.05). To investigate the mechanisms responsible for gallium uptake, the gallium index was correlated with bronchoalveolar lavage findings, respiratory function tests and clinical features. Significant correlations (P less than 0.05) were found with age in non-smoking normals; lavage macrophages in smoking normals; age but no other parameter in bronchiolitis; lavage lymphocytes, lavage albumin and improvement in diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide in those with active interstitial lung disease. It is concluded that in normal smokers gallium uptake may be due to a macrophage-mediated process. Gallium uptake in active interstitial lung disease associated with connective tissue disease appears to be an immunological process in which transport and retention of gallium is associated with that of albumin.

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