DISCLAIMER:
The following suggestions to aid with image interpretation are based on our experiences and are neither all-inclusive nor are they intended to be the only way to interpret the images.

Many of the "first-time" CEA-Scan studies sent to Immunomedics for educational review have been termed "negative" or "false-negative" at the clinical site, despite the presence of a rising serum CEA or tumor confirmed by another modality or surgery. Upon review by a CEA-Scan-experienced clinician, the vast majority of the submitted "negative" and "false-negative" studies turn out to be true-positive scans. Many actually demonstrate more disease than suggested by the other imaging modalities and subsequently confirmed by surgery.

The common problem is "under-reading" of otherwise adequately performed studies. Physicians submitting cases for review often react with disbelief when the findings are demonstrated to them. The key to correct interpretation is appreciating that the findings are often subtle. Abnormal uptake is often no more intense than blood pool activity!

Traditionally, nuclear medicine physicians avoid "over-reading" subtle findings and potentially calling disease when there is none. While that’s a good approach for many types of scans, it is inappropriate in CEA-Scan interpretation - because subtle findings often can represent disease.

Virtually all patients referred for a CEA-Scan have both a history of colorectal cancer and signs or symptoms of metastasis or recurrence. Therefore, the experienced CEA-Scan interpreter will tend to call subtle uptake as positive, not negative or indeterminate.