Assessment of the solid-state gamma camera to depict axillary sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The solid-state gamma camera is now commercially available offering the advantages of a compact and portable system, currently used mainly in the cardiac region. We evaluate the ability of the solid-state gamma camera to depict axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in breast cancer patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Preoperative SLN lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) was performed in 19 patients with breast cancer using the solid-state gamma camera. Immediately thereafter, we performed a second LSG using a single detector Anger-type gamma camera, and compared the findings from the two cameras.

RESULTS:

Concordant results were obtained in 12 (63%) patients with both cameras. In 4 (21%) patients, axillary SLNs were correctly identified only with the solid-state gamma camera. In these patients, the distance between the SLN and the radiopharmaceutical injection site was closer than that of patients who had concordant results (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION:

We can depict correctly axillary SLNs with the solid-state gamma camera in comparison with the Anger-type gamma camera. This technique would be useful for assessing SLNs in breast cancer patients.

• Authors: Mariko Goto, Chio Okuyama, Takao Kubota, Yo Ushijima, Tsunehiko Nishimura
• Journal: Annals of nuclear medicine (Ann Nucl Med) Vol. 19 Issue 7 Pg. 627-31 (Oct 2005) ISSN: 0914-7187 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 16363630 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Axilla (diagnostic imaging)
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnostic imaging)
• Equipment Failure Analysis
• Humans
• Image Enhancement (instrumentation, methods)
• Lymph Nodes (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Radionuclide Imaging (instrumentation, methods)
• Reproducibility of Results
• Semiconductors
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (methods)