Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Lymphoscintigraphy”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Effect of lymphoscintigraphy drainage patterns on sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy examination is an accepted method of staging breast cancer patients. SLN biopsy examination in patients with drainage to the internal mammary chain (IMC) nodes is controversial. METHODS: A prospective study of SLN biopsy examination followed by axillary dissection was analyzed to determine how surgeons manage patients with IMC drainage and the rates of axillary SLN identification and positivity in these cases. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy was performed in 2196 (53.2%) of the 4131 patients in this study. IMC drainage was noted in 80 patients (3.6%). An axillary SLN was identified in 29 of the 40 patients with IMC drainage alone (72.5%). The rate of finding a positive axillary lymph node did not differ based on the lymphoscintigraphic pattern (P = .470). CONCLUSIONS: Most surgeons do not perform IMC SLN biopsy procedures. Even when lymphoscintigraphy shows isolated drainage to IMC nodes, axillary SLNs usually are identified. Lymphoscintigraphy therefore has limited usefulness.

Adult↗

Lymphoscintigraphy, the sentinel node concept, and the intraoperative gamma probe in melanoma, breast cancer, and other potential cancers.

There is a resurgence of interest in lymphoscintigraphy because of attention to the sentinel node concept and the availability of the surgical gamma probe that can be used in the operating room to localize radiolabeled sentinel nodes. Conventional surgical management of melanoma has been altered for intermediate thickness tumors such that lymph node dissection is performed for a lymph node bed only if the sentinel node is tumor positive on histological exam after gamma probe-guided excision. This approach is cost effective, saving about 80% of these patients (sentinel node tumor negative) the cost and morbidity of unnecessary "elective lymph node dissection." In addition, a biopsy can be performed on all lymph node beds that receive lymphatic drainage from the tumor site thereby improving staging and perhaps survival by providing the most appropriate therapy. Substantial work has been done to develop optimum imaging techniques and the best radiopharmaceutical preparation to achieve accurate, reproducible lymphatic drainage images. Our methodology includes the following intradermal injections of a technetium 99m sulfur colloid (modified preparation) are followed by dynamic imaging (10 seconds per frame); static imaging up to 30 minutes and late imaging at 1 to 2 hours. Images show lymphatic channels that lead to sentinel nodes in 1, 2, 3, or more anatomic locations. Surgical management is altered to include sampling sentinel nodes of nodal beds, many of which would not have been sampled by previous conventional surgical estimates of lymphatic drainage. While clinical success of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative probe localization of the sentinel node in melanoma is evident, use of lymphoscintigraphy and the sentinel node concept in breast cancer is investigative, but promising. The radiopharmaceutical is injected around the tumor in the breast followed by imaging to delineate lymphatic drainage to the sentinel node(s). Optimum methodologies for radiopharmaceutical, volume and/or activity of injectate, and imaging have yet to be determined. Breast lymphatic drainage can be to axilla, internal mammary, and/or supraclavicular nodes in any combination.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and image fusion of SPECT and pelvic CT-scans allow mapping of aberrant pelvic sentinel lymph nodes in malignant melanoma.

To date, there are no reliable criteria to identify those patients with melanoma-infiltrated sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) of the groin who might benefit from an extended lymphadenectomy, including the pelvic lymph nodes. We hypothesised that there are pelvic lymph nodes that receive lymph directly from the primary tumour, thus being at an increased risk for metastasis. In order to determine the frequency of radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes and the kinetics of their appearance, we introduce here a combination of dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and image fusion of SPECT and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT)-scans. By dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe detection, superficially located inguinal SLNs (median 2 nodes) could be identified in all of the 51 patients included in this analysis. The histological search for micrometastases was positive in 16 patients (median Breslow thickness of the primary melanoma 2.5 mm). In 29 patients, SPECT and the image fusion technique were additionally performed. Radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes were detected in 20 individuals, 6 of them presenting aberrant pelvic SLNs that, on dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, had appeared simultaneously with the superficial SLN(s). Of the 6 patients in whom radioactive pelvic lymph nodes were excised together with the superficial SLN(s), only one had positive superficial SLNs. In this patient, the aberrant pelvic SLN proved to be tumour-positive. In 9 patients, there was no radiotracer uptake in the pelvic lymph nodes at all. Image fusion of SPECT and pelvic CT-scans is an excellent tool to localise exactly the pelvic tumour-draining nodes. The significance of radioactively labelled pelvic lymph nodes for the probability of pelvic metastases should be analysed further.

Adult↗

Revolutionary impact of lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative sentinel node mapping in the clinical practice of oncology.

Intraoperative lymphatic mapping is a rapidly emerging diagnostic approach that is revolutionizing the management of patients who have solid malignant tumors. The procedure is being performed for the most part with radiopharmaceuticals and vital blue dyes. It is widely believed that passive trapping of radioactive particles determines the sentinel lymph node (SLN) for intraoperative delineation of potential draining sites. In this article, we show that dendritic cells within the SLN actively take up and trap radioactive particles and thus define the SLN immunologically. The role of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and the selection of the site of placement of mapping reagents for intraoperative lymphatic mapping are established for patients with melanoma. For patients with breast cancer, the role of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is controversial. We have shown that this procedure can be performed with success in identifying SLN as hot spots 87% of the time, with 20% of the cases showing draining nodes to other basins in addition to or independent of the axilla. The use of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy for patients with breast cancer can therefore be justified. The selection of the site for placement of radiotracer and blue dye can vary for patients with breast cancer depending on the primary site of the lesion. However, based on data from our institution and others, the delivery of the mapping reagents (both radioactive tracers and blue dye) to the subareolar space may help to standardize breast cancer SLN mapping.

Coloring Agents↗

Sentinel node localization in primary melanoma: preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe, and vital dye guidance.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy can be used to select patients with primary melanoma for therapeutic lymphadenectomy. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of 3 methods to locate the SN: preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative patent blue dye (PBD), and gamma-detecting probe (GDP). METHODS: We studied 133 patients with cutaneous melanoma and clinically negative lymph nodes. Within 24 hours before surgery, colloid labeled with technetium 99m was injected intradermally around the site of the primary melanoma. The patients were studied before their operations by using dynamic lymphoscintigraphy. A total of 208 SNs were found in 164 lymph node basins. In addition, all the patients had PBD injected immediately before the surgical procedure. When the blue-stained node was identified intraoperatively, its radioactivity level was measured with the GDP. In the absence of blue coloration, the GDP was used to trace the SN. RESULTS: Of 208 SNs, 168 (80.8%) were identified in the regional draining basin during intraoperative lymphatic mapping by using PBD. By using the GDP method, 202 (97.1%) of 208 were identified (GDP vs PBD; P < .01). By combining the 2 methods, 206 (99%) of 208 SNs were detected. Of the 133 patients, 29 (21.8%) had pathologically positive SNs, and were subsequently subjected to regional lymphadenectomy. In 26 (89.7%) of 29 patients, the SN was the only node with metastasis. Three cases (10.3%) of recurrence in patients with microscopic SN metastasis and 7 cases (6.7%) of recurrence in patients without SN metastasis were found during a median follow-up of 566 days. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative mapping with PBD and GDP offer simple and reliable methods of staging regional lymph nodes without subjecting every patient to a regional lymphadenectomy.

Adolescent↗

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in oral cancer: validation of technique and clinical implications of added oblique planar lymphoscintigraphy and/or tomography.

PURPOSE: To validate lymphatic mapping combined with sentinel lymph node biopsy as a staging procedure, and to evaluate the possible clinical implications of added oblique lymphoscintigraphy and/or tomography and test the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients (17 F and 23 M, aged 32-90) with 24 T1 and 16 T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. Planar lymphoscintigraphy, emission and transmission tomography were performed. Detection and excision of the sentinel nodes were guided by a gamma probe. The sentinel nodes were step-sectioning and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and cytokeratin (CK 1). Histology and follow-up were used as "gold standard". Tumor location, number of sentinel lymph nodes, metastasis, and recurrences were registered. Two observers evaluated the lymphoscintigraphic images to assess the inter-rater agreement. RESULTS: Eleven (28%) patients were upstaged. The sentinel lymph node identification rate was 97.5%. Sentinel lymph node biopsy significantly differentiated between patients with or without lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001). Lymphatic mapping revealed 124 hotspots and 144 hot lymph nodes were removed by sentinel lymph node biopsy. Three patients developed a lymph node recurrence close to the primary tumor site during follow-up. Added oblique lymphoscintigraphic images and/or tomography revealed extra hotspots in 15/40 (38%) patients. In 4/40 (10%), extra contralateral hotspots were detected. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy upstaged 28% of the patients. Sentinel lymph nodes close to the primary tumor were difficult to find. Added oblique planar images and/or tomographic images revealed extra clinical relevant hotspots in 38% of patients. Reproducibility proved excellent.

Adult↗

Lymphoscintigraphy in a case of Merkel cell tumor.

The authors report a rare case of Merkel cell tumor with the findings of lymphoscintigraphy. The study was performed to delineate anatomic lymphatic drainage from the primary skin lesion to help surgeons to decide which lymphatic basin(s) should have elective lymph node dissection. The lesion was situated in the midline on the back and at the border zone in the lumbar area from which it could drain superiorly to the axillary lymph nodes(s), inferiorly to the inguinal node(s), or to both directions. Because of this location, prediction of the lymphatic drainage by applying conventional anatomical knowledge from the lymphatic atlas was not easy. However, the lymphoscintigraphy was very helpful and subsequent pathologic examination of surgical specimens confirmed the interpretation of the lymphoscintigraphy.

Axilla↗

Identification of bilateral breast sentinel lymph nodes draining primary melanoma of the back by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative mapping.

A 30-year-old white woman with a primary malignant melanoma of her right back at the Sappey line, 4 cm from the midline at the L2 level, underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative mapping of the sentinel lymph node using lymphazurin injection at the primary site and a hand-held gamma probe. Lymphoscintigraphy showed one sentinel lymph node in each breast and another one in the right axilla. These three sentinel lymph nodes were accurately identified using a hand-held gamma probe during operation. An additional sentinel and one nonsentinel lymph node from the right axilla were harvested. All four sentinel lymph nodes were blue and showed significantly elevated radioactivity compared with background. Histologic analysis showed that all these lymph nodes were negative for metastatic melanoma. She has been followed for a period of 26.7 months since her selective sentinel lymphadenectomy and has been free of disease to date. This case illustrates the importance of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in identifying in-transit sentinel lymph nodes in both breasts in addition to the clinically predictable sentinel lymph node(s) in the right axilla.

Adult↗

Is the upright position more sensitive than the supine position in breast cancer sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy?

PURPOSE: The authors compared the supine and standing positions for lymphoscintigraphy in breast cancer patients to identify any changes in the number of affected lymph nodes detected and the quality of images. METHODS: Twenty-three patients were examined using lymphoscintigraphy in both positions. Sequential supine, standing, and supine oblique images were acquired in each patient. RESULTS: The number of lymph nodes detected or the quality of the images acquired was improved in 20 of the 23 patients in the standing position compared with the supine position. The remaining three patients' images were judged to be equal in lymph node number and image quality in both positions. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphoscintigraphy in patients with breast cancer appears to be more sensitive in the standing than in the supine position.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Identification of sentinel lymph node in stage I-II breast cancer with lymphoscintigraphy and surgical gamma probe: comparison of Tc-99m MIBI and Tc-99m sulfur colloid.

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the surgical gamma probe (SGP) after peritumoral injection of Tc-99m MIBI and filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid (SC) in sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in stage I and II breast cancer for deciding on the need for axillary dissection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with stage I-II breast cancer had peritumoral injection of Tc-99m MIBI (74 MBq/0.2 mL [2 mCi/0.2 mL] at 4 different locations) and 42 different patients had peritumoral injection of filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid (50 MBq/0.2 mL [1.3 mCi/0.2 mL] at 4 different locations). Anterior, lateral, and anterolateral spot images were acquired at 10, 30, 45, 60, and 120 minutes and 24 hours are injection in 5 patients. During surgery, counts were obtained from the injection site, affected breast tissue, internal mammary, axillary, and supraclavicular regions and the contralateral side using the gamma probe. Peritumoral blue dye was also injected during surgery. The first lymph nodes with counts at least twice the background tissue and/or with blue dye uptake were surgically isolated. Modified radical mastectomy and axillary dissection were performed. RESULTS: Histopathologic evaluation was made on SLN and other excised tissues. In the Tc-99m sulfur colloid group, lymphatic drainage and lymph nodes were demonstrated with lymphoscintigraphy in 31 of 42 patients. SLN was detected by SGP in 35 of 42 patients. In the Tc-99m MIBI group, lymphatic drainage and lymph nodes were visualized with lymphoscintigraphy in 23 of 30 patients. SLN was detected in 25 of 30 patients with SGP in this group. CONCLUSION: In patients with stage I-II breast cancer, SLN could be successfully demonstrated with lymphoscintigraphy and SGP by the peritumoral injection of filtered Tc-99m sulfur colloid and Tc-99m MIBI.

Adult↗

The value of combined peritumoral and subdermal injection techniques for lymphoscintigraphy in detection of sentinel lymph node in breast cancer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the success rate of combined peritumoral and subdermal injection techniques based on our previous experience on different injection techniques for lymphoscintigraphy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine women with early breast cancer (mean tumor size, 20.5 mm) were prospectively studied. On the morning of the operation, each patient had 2 injections, one peritumoral (PT) medial to the lesion and one subdermal (SD) into the skin over the tumor quadrant. Each injection consisted of 20 MBq (540 mCi) Tc-99m rhenium sulfide colloid. Early dynamic and delayed static images were obtained up to 4 hours after injections. An intraoperative gamma probe was used to explore the axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLN). All surgical specimens were evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: Forty patients had breast-preserving surgery and 19 had modified radical mastectomy. Thirty-eight patients had axillary dissection. All but 4 patients showed axillary lymphatic drainage. Twelve of 59 patients (20%) showed extraaxillary drainage with lymphoscintigraphy. Combined injection technique yielded a 93.2% success rate in detecting axillary SLN. In 2 of 4 patients with no drainage on lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe revealed SLN during the surgery. Twenty patients (33%) had positive axillary lymph nodes. In 14 of them, the SLN was the only positive node. A false-negative rate was found 1.6% (one of 59 patients). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that a combination of both PT and SD techniques increases the success rate of visualization SLN and enhances the visualization of extraaxillary nodes for further treatment planning.

Adult↗

Early stage melanoma: lymphoscintigraphy, reproducibility of sentinel node detection, and effectiveness of the intraoperative gamma probe.

PURPOSE: To assess the influence of lymphoscintigraphic and intraoperative gamma probe findings on the surgical management of melanoma and to test reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After lymphoscintigraphic identification of the sentinel node, intraoperative gamma probe localization and sentinel lymph node excision were performed in 25 patients. To assess reproducibility, 13 patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy twice within 2-17 days. A modified preparation of technetium-99m sulfur colloid with smaller particles than routinely obtained was injected intradermally around the lesion. Dynamic flow images were obtained at 10 seconds per frame followed by a series of static images obtained every 5 minutes for 30 minutes. RESULTS: A sentinel node was identified in all patients. In eight patients, multiple drainage pathways were seen and surgical management was changed. In 11 of the 13 who underwent lymphoscintigraphy twice, sentinel node identification was reproducible. CONCLUSION: Lymphoscintigraphy is reproducible in detection of the sentinel node and with the surgical probe helps effectively guide surgical management.

Female↗

Clinical breast lymphoscintigraphy: optimal techniques for performing studies, image atlas, and analysis of images.

Breast lymphoscintigraphy is increasingly performed before surgery to delineate the drainage to the sentinel node (SN) in the axilla. On the basis of the histologic status of harvested SNs, the disease status of the entire axilla can be predicted. This prediction allows a more limited dissection to be performed while maintaining staging accuracy comparable with that of classic axillary lymph node dissection. Lymphoscintigraphy assists surgeons in harvesting the SN during gamma probe-assisted axillary biopsy or dissection and provides a wide field of view survey, among other benefits. When certain injection protocols are used, lymphoscintigraphy can be performed in the afternoon before surgery the next morning, thus minimizing disruptions of tight surgical schedules. Image acquisition can be optimized and SN activity can be maximized by means of such factors as parameters for preparation of the radiotracer, injection techniques, energy settings for the gamma camera, breast displacement maneuvers, and techniques for marking and outlining the patient's body. The ultimate goals are to delineate the true SN, maximize activity in the node for facilitated removal (even at next-day surgery), and deliver the information to the surgeon without delaying the surgical schedule.

Artifacts↗

[Use of intraoperative lymphoscintigraphy in doubtful cases of sentinel node detection].

Lymphoscintigraphy is a widely accepted method used to detect selectively the sentinel node in malignant melanoma. This is the case report of a patient who was operated on for an inguinal melanoma and who was referred to the Nuclear Medicine Section for preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. There were technical problems for sentinel node detection due to the proximity of injection points. We aimed to know the possibility to perform an intraoperative lymphoscintigraphy as a valid and useful technique in cases as this one.

Aged↗

Detection of sentinel nodes by lymphoscintigraphy and gamma probe guided surgery in vulvar neoplasia.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor in vulvar cancer; however, complete inguinofemoral node dissection is associated with significant morbidity. Intraoperative lymphoscintigraphy associated with gamma detecting probe-guided surgery has proved to be reliable in the detection of sentinel node (SN) involvement in melanoma and breast cancer patients. The present study evaluates the feasibility of the surgical identification of inguinal sentinel nodes using lymphoscintigraphy and a gamma detecting probe in patients with early vulvar cancer. METHODS: Technetium-99-labeled colloid human albumin was administered perilesionally in 44 patients. Twenty patients had T1 and 23 had T2 invasive epidermoid vulvar cancer; one patient had a lower-third vaginal cancer. An intraoperative gamma detecting probe was used to identify SNs during surgery. Complete inguinofemoral node dissection was subsequently performed. SNs underwent separate pathologic evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 77 groins were dissected in 44 patients. SNs were identified in all the studied groins. Thirteen cases had positive nodes: the SN was positive in all of them; in 10 cases the SN was the only positive node. Thirty-one patients showed negative SNs: all of them were negative for lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphoscintigraphy and SN biopsy under gamma detecting probe guidance proved to be an easy and reliable method for detection of SNs in early vulvar cancer. If these preliminary data will be confirmed, the technique would represent a real progress towards less aggressive treatment in patients with vulvar cancer.

Adult↗

Lymphoscintigraphy and triangulated body marking for morbidity reduction during sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer.

Current trends in patient care include the desire for minimizing invasiveness of procedures and interventions. This aim is reflected in the increasing utilization of sentinel lymph node biopsy, which results in a lower level of morbidity in breast cancer staging, in comparison to extensive conventional axillary dissection. Optimized lymphoscintigraphy with triangulated body marking is a clinical option that can further reduce morbidity, more than when a hand held gamma probe alone is utilized. Unfortunately it is often either overlooked or not fully understood, and thus not utilized. This results in the unnecessary loss of an opportunity to further reduce morbidity. Optimized lymphoscintigraphy and triangulated body marking provides a detailed 3 dimensional map of the number and location of the sentinel nodes, available before the first incision is made. The number, location, relevance based on time/sequence of appearance of the nodes, all can influence 1) where the incision is made, 2) how extensive the dissection is, and 3) how many nodes are removed. In addition, complex patterns can arise from injections. These include prominent lymphatic channels, pseudo-sentinel nodes, echelon and reverse echelon nodes and even contamination, which are much more difficult to access with the probe only. With the detailed information provided by optimized lymphoscintigraphy and triangulated body marking, the surgeon can approach the axilla in a more enlightened fashion, in contrast to when the less informed probe only method is used. This allows for better planning, resulting in the best cosmetic effect and less trauma to the tissues, further reducing morbidity while maintaining adequate sampling of the sentinel node(s).

Journal Article↗

Abdominal lymphoscintigraphy: an effective substitute for lymphography?

Abdominal lymphoscintigraphy is a quick, easy, cheap and relatively non-invasive technique. In our study it appeared to be as accurate as lymphography, giving a positive correlation in 25 out of 32 patients (78%). In 11% of cases the lymphoscintigram detected an abnormality of lymph node function before macroscopic morphological change was seen in the lymphogram, indicating that in some instances lymphoscintigraphy is more sensitive than lymphography. The reason for this is unknown, although possible mechanisms are discussed and these are the subject of current further study. We believe this to be the first report of lymphoscintigraphy being more sensitive than lymphography for detecting lymph node disease.

Abdomen↗

Quantitative lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm human serum albumin in patients with previously treated uterine cancer.

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm human serum albumin (99Tc-HSA) in assessing lymphoedema in the lower extremities, lymphoscintigraphy was performed by subcutaneous injection of 7.4 MBq of 99Tcm-HSA in 26 patients with uterine cancer, previously treated by operation (OP) and/or radiation therapy (RT), and in five controls. Radioactivity at the injection site in the lower extremities was counted for 3 min at 10 min (A) and at 3 h (B) after injection, and clearance of 99Tcm-HSA was defined as (1-(B)/(A)) x 100(%). Clearance in controls was 46.8 +/- 3.9%, which was significantly more than those in the other treatment groups. Clearances in patients treated with both OP and RT were less than those in patients treated with either OP or RT alone (30.1 +/- 11.4 vs. 41.9 +/- 8.9, 43.7 +/- 9.6%, respectively; p less than 0.01). The clearance in legs with lymphoedema was less than those without lymphoedema in patients treated with both OP and RT (16.6 +/- 7.7 vs. 34.9 +/- 9.3%; p less than 0.01) and in patients treated with RT (33.1 +/- 7.4 vs. 48.0 +/- 5.6%; p less than 0.01). There was a significant difference between clearance in controls and clearance in non-oedematous patients' legs treated with OP and RT (p less than 0.01). In patients treated with RT alone, radiation dose was closely correlated with 99Tcm-HSA clearance and with the development of lymphoedema. These data suggest that lymphoscintigraphy using 99Tcm-HSA is useful in evaluating lymphoedema and that radiation dose is one of the factors in the development of lymphoedema.

Adult↗