Abstract | OBJECTIVE: The volume of radiotracer to be injected for sentinel node mapping is a controversial issue in breast cancer patients. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of radiotracer injection volume on the success rate of sentinel node mapping in early-stage breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 383 patients with early-stage breast cancer (cN0) were included in the study. The patients received an intradermal injection of Tc- antimony sulfide colloid for sentinel node mapping. The volume of injection was 0.1 ml for 102 patients, 0.2 ml for 221 patients, 0.5 ml for 30 patients, and 1 ml for 30 patients. The detection rate of the sentinel nodes during surgery was compared between the different injection volume groups. RESULTS: The overall detection rate was 93.9%. Detection rates were 95.1, 95, 90, and 86.7% for 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1 ml volumes, respectively, which did not show a statistically significant difference despite minimal decrease in detection at higher volumes (P=0.214). The time of sentinel node visualization was not statistically different between the studied groups either (P=0.65). CONCLUSION: Increasing the volume of radiotracer in intradermal injections does not have a statistically significant effect on the sentinel node detection rate (despite minimal decrease in detection at higher volumes), nor on the time of sentinel node visualization. A low volume (0.1 ml) of radiotracer for intradermal injections can be as successful as higher volumes for sentinel node mapping with the added benefit of reduced pain from injections.
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Authors | Vahid Reza Dabbagh Kakhki, Hasan Aliakbarian, Asiehsadat Fattahi, Ali Jangjoo, Mahdi Assadi, Mahtab Khajeh, Ramin Sadeghi |
Journal | Nuclear medicine communications
(Nucl Med Commun)
Vol. 34
Issue 7
Pg. 660-3
(Jul 2013)
ISSN: 1473-5628 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 23604225
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Breast Neoplasms
(pathology)
- Humans
- Injections
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Radioactive Tracers
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
(methods)
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