99Tc m-利妥昔单抗SPECT/CT乳腺癌前哨淋巴结显像的临床评价

目的 探讨99Tcm-利妥昔单抗（99Tcm- Rituximab）SPECT/CT对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）的诊断效能。 方法 回顾性分析2019年7月至2020年7月于海南省肿瘤医院经组织病理学检查证实的22例女性乳腺癌患者的临床资料,患者年龄37~73岁（中位年龄50.5岁）。所有患者术前均行99Tcm-利妥昔单抗SPECT/CT显像,分析图像并统计SLN的数量。显像后1~2 h进行手术,术中采用便携式γ探测器探测SLN,以术中检出的SLN数量为“金标准”,评估99Tcm-利妥昔单抗SPECT/CT的诊断效能。 结果 99Tcm-利妥昔单抗SPECT/CT显像共检出SLN 67枚,以1~3 枚者居多（68%,15/22）,术中γ探测器共检出SLN 81枚,以2~4 枚者居多（73%,16/22）。以患者为单位,99Tcm-利妥昔单抗显像的灵敏度为100%（22/22）、总符合率为100%（22/22）;以淋巴结为单位,灵敏度为83%（67/81）、阳性预测值为100%（67/67）、总符合率为83%（67/81）。 结论 99Tcm-利妥昔单抗 SPECT/CT对乳腺癌SLN的诊断灵敏度及符合率高,具有较好的临床应用性。      

SPECT-CT探测喉癌前哨淋巴结

目的 评价SPECT-CT淋巴显像探测喉癌患者前哨淋巴结(SLN)的价值。方法 30例临床N₀期喉癌患者,术前于喉镜引导下注射99Tcm-硫胶体(SC),使用SPECT-CT进行SLN显像;同时,术中用γ探测仪探测放射性"热点"。将手术切除的SLN及颈清扫标本行病理检查。结果 全组30例检出SLN28例,检出率为93.3%。术前平面显像、SPECT-CT分别检出61个和66个SLN。术中用手持式γ探测仪有27例患者探测到SLN,共计70个,检出率为90.0%(27/30)。γ探测仪探测SLN数目与SPECT-CT淋巴显像数目有4例不一致,24例符合,其符合率为85.7%(24/28)。病理结果显示,6例患者有淋巴结转移,占20.0%。SLN检测的灵敏度、特异度、准确率和假阴性率分别为83.3%、95.8%、93.3%和16.7%。结论 术前SPECT-CT淋巴显像能有效探测喉癌患者的SLN,准确预测颈部淋巴结转移情况。     

口腔癌前哨淋巴结显像与术中γ探测

目的探讨淋巴显像及术中γ探测定位活组织检查口腔癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）的临床价值.方法术前在口腔肿瘤表面正中黏膜内（舌癌于肿瘤远心端边缘）注射37～74 MBq ^99Tc^m-右旋糖酐（DX）,行淋巴显像及术中γ探测定位口腔癌SLN,术中切除SLN,并行常规颈淋巴结清扫术.将切除的口腔肿瘤及淋巴结行病理检查,分析SLN和远端淋巴结转移的关系.结果33例患者口腔癌SLN及淋巴引流显像清晰,共检出SLN 43枚,其中1枚者25例,2枚者6例,3枚者2例.SLN病理检查结果有转移者9例,颈清扫淋巴结转移者共11例,2例SLN阴性而远处淋巴结转移,1例仅有SLN转移.口腔癌SLN γ探测定位检出率100%.SLN活组织病理检查灵敏度为81.82%（9/11例）,准确性为93.94%,假阴性率为18.18%（2/11例）,假阳性率为0.结论淋巴显像是定位口腔癌SLN的基础,术中γ探测是定位口腔癌SLN的可靠手段.     

前哨淋巴结显像在口腔鳞癌分期诊断中的价值

目的 评价前哨淋巴结(SLN)显像等指导活组织检查技术(SLNB)在口腔鳞癌分期诊断中的作用.方法 Cn0期口腔癌患者31例,肿瘤旁黏膜下注射专利蓝和99Tcm-右旋糖酐(DX),分别采用蓝染法、淋巴显像法、术中γ探测法定位SLN.行常规病理检查,同时对常规切片阴性者采用连续切片,分别进行HE染色和鼠抗人角蛋白抗体(Ael/AE3)免疫组织化学检测.计算SLN的检出率及评价cNo期口腔鳞癌颈部淋巴结真实状态.结果 用蓝染法、γ探测、淋巴显像分别检测出25(80.6%),31(100.0%),30(96.8%)例的SLN,SLN分别为44,55,51枚,平均每例1.4(1～3)枚.非 SLN(NSLN)1302枚.常规病理检查SLN转移(阳性)6枚(6例),其中1例伴NSLN转移.连续切片+常规HE染色检出I例SLN转移.续切片+AE1/AE3免疫组织化学染色检出2例SLN转移.未发现单独的NSLN转移病例.结论 蓝染法、γ探测和淋巴显像对SLN均具有较高的检出率,其指导的SLNB检测可显示cN0期口腔鳞癌颈部淋巴结的真实状态;连续病理切片和AE1/AE3免疫组织化学检测有助于微小转移灶的检出.     

甲状旁腺病灶重量对99Tcm-MIBI显像诊断灵敏度的影响

目的 探讨甲状旁腺病灶重量对99Tcm-甲氧基异丁基异腈（MIBI）双时相平面显像及其 SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像诊断灵敏度的影响。 方法 收集2017年2月至2018年10月在昆山市第一人民医院经手术病理学确诊的甲状旁腺功能亢进患者22例,其中男性9例、女性13例,年龄28~73（50.77±8.79）岁。所有患者均于术前行99Tcm -MIBI双时相平面显像、99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像,以术后病理学结果为“金标准”。按切除的病灶重量将全部病灶分为两组,A组:病灶重量≤1.00 g,B组:病灶重量>1.00 g。采用χ2检验分析两种显像方法对不同重量组的诊断效能。 结果 22例患者中,共切除病灶58个。99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像对A、B两组的诊断灵敏度分别为47.83%（11/23）和84.00%（21/25）,差异有统计学意义（χ2=7.05,P=0.008）;99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像对A、B两组的诊断灵敏度分别为78.26%（18/23）和85.19%（23/27）,差异无统计学意义（χ2=0.40,P=0.525）。99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像对A组的诊断灵敏度高于99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像,差异有统计学意义（χ2=4.57,P=0.033）。99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像对B组的诊断灵敏度高于99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像,但差异无统计学意义（χ2=0.01,P=0.906）。 结论 甲状旁腺病灶重量对99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像诊断灵敏度有影响,当病灶重量较小时,99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像对其的诊断灵敏度较低;而病灶重量对99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT早期断层融合显像的诊断灵敏度无明显影响。     

18F-FDG和99Tcm-MDP显像诊断多发性骨髓瘤骨病的对比研究

目的 对比研究18F-FDG PET/CT和99Tcm-亚甲基二膦酸盐（99Tcm-MDP）SPECT全身骨显像对多发性骨髓瘤骨病（MBD）的诊断价值。 方法 回顾性分析2015年4月至2018年5月在安徽医科大学附属安庆医院经临床确诊的29例多发性骨髓瘤初治患者,其中,男性18例、女性11例,年龄39~81（60.14±10.41）岁。所有患者均于两周内先后行18F-FDG PET/CT显像及99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像,对比分析18F-FDG PET/CT和99Tcm-MDP SPECT显像检出的骨异常改变,对两种显像方法检出MBD例数的比较采用配对资料的χ2检验。 结果 29例多发性骨髓瘤患者均伴发MBD,18F-FDG PET/CT显像阳性者28例（骨骼局灶型摄取显像剂18例,弥漫型骨髓摄取1例,混合型摄取9例）,99Tcm-MDP SPECT骨显像阳性21例（表现为骨骼单发或多发放射性浓聚灶）,阳性符合率分别为96.6%（28/29）和72.4%（21/29）,差异有统计学意义（χ2=5.0,P<0.05）。 结论 18F-FDG PET/CT显像比99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像对MBD的探测更为灵敏,且对骨髓浸润及髓外侵犯亦具有良好的诊断效能。     

全身骨显像联合局部SPECT/CT对功能不全性骨折的诊断价值

目的 探讨99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像联合局部SPECT/CT融合显像对骨质疏松患者功能不全性骨折（IF）的诊断价值。 方法 回顾性分析2012年12月至2017年6月于河南省骨科医院收治的90例符合骨质疏松症诊断标准的患者的99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像和阳性部位的局部SPECT/CT融合显像结果,分析联合显像对IF的临床诊断效能。90例患者中,男性32例、女性58例,年龄（67.56±7.68）岁,其中22例可疑IF、68例已确诊局部IF。所有患者的最终诊断结果均经过6个月以上临床及影像学随访证实。 结果 99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像共检出IF病灶234个,均表现为显像剂摄取增高,病变部位及个数为骨盆78个、腰椎49个、胸椎46个、肋骨45个、股骨8个、胫骨4个、跟骨3个及胸骨1个。全身骨显像联合局部SPECT/CT融合显像对IF的诊断灵敏度为100%（234/234）。68.89%（62/90）的患者联合显像检出的IF数目多于显像之前已知的骨折数目。在局部SPECT/CT融合显像检查范围内,CT显示骨折病灶293个,其中SPECT/CT诊断新鲜IF病灶234个、陈旧性IF病灶59个,SPECT/CT对新鲜IF的诊断灵敏度为100%（234/234）。 结论 99Tcm-MDP SPECT全身骨显像联合局部SPECT/CT融合显像对骨质疏松患者IF病灶数目的全身显示及诊断具有较高的临床应用价值。     

99TcmO4-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT在DTC患者术后肺转移灶显影中的应用

目的探讨99TcmO₄-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT在分化型甲状腺癌（DTC）术后肺转移灶检出中的应用。方法回顾性分析2013年1月至2016年1月收治的34例DTC肺转移患者在术后131I治疗前的99TcmO₄-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT中肺转移灶的检出情况,计算99TcmO₄-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT检出肺转移灶的灵敏度、阳性预测值,并评估其对治疗决策的影响。结果34例肺转移患者中,2例表现为阳性（放射性浓聚+结构异常）,10例表现为可疑阳性（仅有典型肺转移CT表现）,22例表现为可疑阴性,若将可疑阳性与阳性均视为阳性发现,则99TcmO₄-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT发现肺转移灶的灵敏度为35.3%（12/34）,阳性预测值为100%（12/12）,11例患者在后续的131I治疗中增加了剂量。结论99TcmO₄-全身显像联合颈胸SPECT/CT能发现部分无99TcmO₄-浓聚的肺转移灶,提高了肺转移灶的检出率;指导临床调整131I治疗剂量,改善预后。     

SPECT/CT双时相联合减影技术诊断甲状旁腺功能亢进症的增益价值

目的探讨在99Tcm-MIBI双时相平面显像的基础上联合减影平面显像及SPECT/CT融合显像对甲状旁腺功能亢进症（以下简称甲旁亢）患者术前诊断的增益价值。方法2015年3月至2016年3月序贯纳入本院甲旁亢患者28例。所有患者行放射性核素显像前1~2周检测血清甲状腺旁腺激素（PTH）及血钙值。静脉注射99TcmO₄-40~60 MBq后行甲状腺99TcmO₄-显像;待采集结束后,再次静脉注射99Tcm-MIBI 600 MBq,行早期99Tcm-MIBI平面显像,后行SPECT/CT融合显像。在行99Tcm-MIBI延迟平面显像后,获得减影平面显像。以病理诊断结果为金标准,计算各显像技术的诊断效能。显像技术检出病灶数据的比较采用配对卡方检验,其他数值型变量采用Wilcoxon秩和检验。结果原发性和继发性甲旁亢患者术前检测PTH水平分别为（102.4±88.8）、（98.2±53.6）pmol/L,血钙水平分别为（2.9±0.3）、（1.9±0.2）mmol/L。28例甲旁亢患者共发现可疑性结节55处,其中40处甲旁亢病灶,15处非甲旁亢病灶。双时相检出19处病灶和2处阳性浓聚灶,其灵敏度为47.5%（19/40）。在双时相诊断甲旁亢病灶为阴性结果的患者中,减影相检出其他5处病灶,提高了病灶检出的灵敏度（60.0%）,差异有统计学意义（χ2=2.716,P=0.125）。SPECT/CT融合显像检出甲旁亢病灶26处,将双时相和减影相联合分析,检出甲旁亢病灶25处、非甲旁亢病灶4处;将双时相联合SPECT/CT融合显像分析,检出甲旁亢病灶26处、非甲旁亢病灶1处。减影相联合SPECT/CT融合显像与全部联合显像诊断效能相同,检出甲旁亢病灶27处、非甲旁亢病灶1处,其灵敏度和特异度较双时相（67.5% vs.47.5%和93.3% vs.86.7%）提高,差异均有统计学意义（χ2=6.635,P=0.02;χ2=4.432,P=0.04）。结论甲旁亢患者在行常规双时相平面显像的基础上联合减影平面显像及SPECT/CT融合显像,较单纯行双时相平面显像可以提高患者病灶的检出率。     

应用γ探测仪探测乳腺癌前哨淋巴结的临床价值

目的 探讨应用γ探测仪探测乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活组织检查（SLNB）的临床价值。方法 53例乳腺癌患者，在肿块或活组织检查腔周围的乳腺实质内注射^99Tc^m－硫胶体，应用γ探测仪术中定位切除放射性浓聚的前哨淋巴结（SLN），再行腋窝淋巴结清扫（ALND）。SLN与腋窝淋巴结（ALN）同时行HE和免疫组织化学（IHC）检测，以及用逆转录多聚酶链反应（RT－PCR）检测CK19 mRNA的表达，观察SLN的检出率和用SLN预测ALN转移的准确性，评价SLN阴性的早期乳腺癌患者用SLNB代替ALND的可行性。结果 SLN检出灵敏度为91％（48／53例），共检出SLN91枚，平均1．9枚。SLN预测ALN转移准确性为100％，阳性预测值为0。结论 术中用γ探测仪进行乳腺癌SLNB是可行的，SLN可预测腋窝其余淋巴结的转移情况，并可作为早期乳癌患者用SLNB代替ALND的可靠指标。     

SPECT/CT sentinel lymph node identification in papillary thyroid cancer: lymphatic staging and surgical management improvement

Purpose

Lymphadenectomy in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) continues to be controversial. A better staging method is needed to provide adequate individual surgical treatment. SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy may improve lymphatic staging and surgical treatment. Our main objectives were to describe the lymphatic drainage of PTC using lymphoscintigraphy, to evaluate the lymphatic spread (comparing SLN and lymphadenectomy results) and to analyse the impact of SLN identification in surgery.

Methods

We prospectively studied 24 consecutive patients with PTC (19 women; mean age 52.7 years, range 22–81 years). The day before surgery, lymphoscintigraphy with ultrasound-guided intratumoral injection (^99mTc-nanocolloid, 148 MBq) was performed, obtaining planar and SPECT/CT images. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy, SLN biopsy (hand-held gamma probe) with perioperative analysis, central compartment node dissection, or laterocervical lymphadenectomy if perioperative stage N1b or positive SLNs in this lymphatic basin.

Results

Lymphoscintigraphy revealed at least one SLN in 19 of 24 patients (79 %) on planar and SPECT/CT images, and in 23 of 24 patients (96 %) during surgery using a hand-held gamma probe. Lymph node metastases were detected with classical perioperative techniques (ultrasound guidance and surgical inspection) in 3 of 24 patients, by perioperative SLN analysis in 10 of 23, and by definitive histology in 13 of 24. The false-negative (FN) ratio for SLN was 7.7 % (one patient with bulky lymph nodes). The FN ratio for perioperative frozen sections was 15.4 % (two patients, one with micrometastases, the other with bilateral SLN). Lymphatic drainage was only to the central compartment in 6 of 24 patients (3 of the 6 with positive SLNs for metastases), only to the laterocervical basin in 5 of 24 patients (all unilateral, 2 of 5 positive SLNs) and to the central and laterocervical compartments in 12 of 24 patients (6 of 12 and 3 of 12 positive SLNs, respectively).

Conclusion

Lymphoscintigraphy reveals the lymph node drainage in a high proportion of patients. It detects laterocervical drainage in a significant percentage of patients, allowing the detection of occult lymph node metastases and improving the surgical management in PTC.     

Contribution of SLN investigation with <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc-nanocolloid in clinical staging of thyroid cancer: technical feasibility

Purpose It is a matter of controversy whether prophylactic lymph node dissection improves prognosis and survival in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients without suspicion of lymph node metastases either clinically or on ultrasonography. It is possible that in such patients the use of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, as are employed for other tumours, will be of assistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of preoperative ^99mTc-nanocolloid lymphoscintigraphy and an intra-operative SLN procedure in the management of PTC patients. Methods Twenty-five consecutive patients were entered in the study between April 2005 and October 2005. All had a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy obtained by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), without clinical or ultrasonographic evidence of loco-regional lymph node involvement. Patients underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy after the injection of ^99mTc-nanocolloid [median 6 MBq (range 4–9 MBq) in 0.1–0.2 ml saline injected intratumorally under ultrasound guidance] and an intra-operative SLN procedure using a hand-held gamma probe. Surgery was performed by the same surgeon in all patients. Results Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy identified at least one SLN in all patients. During surgery, using the gamma probe, the surgeon was able to find at least one SLN in all cases. A good correlation was found between preoperative imaging and probe results. Metastasis was found in at least one SLN in 12 (48%) patients. In seven (28%) patients the involved SLN was the most radioactive SLN, while in five (20%) patients a less radioactive SLN was involved by malignancy. Ten of these 12 patients had only micrometastases (<2 mm). Micrometastases were found in the most radioactive SLN in six cases and in less radioactive SLNs in four cases, while in two patients more lymph nodes visualised at lymphoscintigraphy ipsilateral to the primary tumour were sites of metastasis. Conclusion The rate of nodal involvement was very high in our series: in 48% of patients at least one metastatic lymph node was found. From a technical point of view the intra-operative SLN procedure in PTC patients was easy to perform, without major intra-operative complications. Our promising preliminary experience needs to be confirmed in larger series of patients series with longer follow-up.     

Sentinel lymph node detection in early stage cervical cancer: a prospective study comparing preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe, and blue dye

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in patients with cervical cancer using lymphoscintigraphy (LS), gamma probe, and blue dye. METHODS: A total of 32 patients with early stage cervical cancer (FIGO IA2-IIA) who were treated with total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic and paraortic lymphadenectomy underwent SLN biopsy. LS was performed on all the patients following the injection of 74 MBq technetium-99m-nanocolloid pericervically. The first appearing persistent focal accumulation on either dynamic or static images of LS was considered to be an SLN. Blue dye was injected just prior to surgical incision in 16 patients (50%) at the same locations as the radioactive isotope injection. During the operation, blue-stained node(s) were excised as SLNs. For gamma probe, a lymph node was accepted as an SLN, if its ex vivo radioactive counts were at least 10-fold above background radioactivity. SLNs, which were negative by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) examination, were histopathologically reevaluated for the presence of micrometastases by step sectioning and immunohistochemical staining with pancytokeratin. RESULTS: At least one SLN was identified for each patient by gamma probe. Intraoperative gamma probe was the most sensitive method with a technical success rate of SLN detection of 100% (32/32), followed by LS 87.5% (28/32) and blue dye 68.8% (11/16), respectively. The average number of SLNs per patient detected by gamma probe was 2.09 (range 1-5). The localizations of the SLNs were external iliac 47.8%, obturatory 32.8%, common iliac 9%, paraaortic 4.4%, and paracervical 6%. Micrometastases, not detected by routine H&E were found by immunohistochemistry in one patient. On the basis of the histopathological analysis, the negative predictive value for predicting metastases was 100%, and there were no false-negative results. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative LS with radiocolloids, intraoperative lymphatic mapping with blue dye and gamma probe are all feasible methods comparable with each other for SLN detection in early stage cervical cancer patients, but gamma probe is the most useful method in terms of technical success.     

Multimodal fusion imaging ensemble for targeted sentinel lymph node management: initial results of an innovative promising approach for anatomically difficult lymphatic drainage in different tumour entities

Purpose There are situations where exact identification and localisation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are very difficult using lymphoscintigraphy, a hand-held gamma probe and vital dye, either a priori or a posteriori. We developed a new method using a simultaneous injection of two lymphotropic agents for exact topographical tomographic localisation and biopsy of draining SLNs. The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this method ensemble. Methods Fourteen patients with different tumour entities were enrolled. A mixture of ^99mTc-nanocolloid and a dissolved superparamagnetic iron oxide was injected interstitially. Dynamic, sequential static lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT served as pathfinders. MR imaging was performed 2 h after injection. SPECT, contrast MRI and, if necessary, CT scan data sets were fused and evaluated with special regard to the topographical location of SLNs. The day after injection, nine patients underwent SLN biopsy and, in the presence of SLN metastasis, an elective lymph node dissection. Results Twenty-five SLNs were localised in the 14 patients examined. A 100% fusion correlation was achieved in all patients. The anatomical sites of SLNs detected during surgery showed 100% agreement with those localised on the multimodal fusion images. SLNs could be excised in 11/14 patients, six of whom had nodal metastasis. Conclusion Our novel approach of multimodal fusion imaging for targeted SLN management in primary tumours with lymphatic drainage to anatomically difficult regions enables SLN biopsy even in patients with lymphatic drainage to obscure regions. Currently, we are testing its validity in larger patient groups and other tumour entities.     

Reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy in cutaneous melanoma: can we accurately detect the sentinel lymph node by expanding the tracer injection distance from the tumor site?

The aim of the study was to determine whether the sentinel lymph node (SLN) can be accurately detected in cutaneous melanoma patients when the injection distance from the tumor site is expanded. METHODS: In 100 patients with cutaneous melanoma, lymphoscintigraphy was performed twice. First, we injected 37 MBq (99m)Tc nanocolloid intracutaneously at a 2- to 5-mm distance from either the melanoma or the biopsy scar. The injection was followed by dynamic imaging, which continued until the SLN became visible. On another day, we repeated the investigation, injecting the radiopharmaceutical intracutaneously exactly 10 mm from the previous injection site. The detected SLNs of both investigations were compared to determine the number and location of SLNs for each patient. RESULTS: The SLN identification rate was 94% with close injection and 100% with 10-mm-distant injection. All SLNs detected with close injection were visible with distant injection. In 84 of 100 patients, the images of both investigations showed the same number and location of SLNs. In the remaining 16 patients, an additional SLN was detected with the distant injection. CONCLUSION: The reproducibility of lymphoscintigraphy using different injection distances was 84%. The discordance in the remaining 16% was caused by detection of a lymph node in addition to the original SLN with distant injection. Diagnostic excision of the primary tumor before lymphoscintigraphy was possible without preventing detection of the original SLN. However, in 16% of our patients, excision of an additional lymph node had to be considered when lymphoscintigraphy was performed after diagnostic excision.     

The Clinical Value of Hybrid Sentinel Lymphoscintigraphy to Predict Metastatic Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer

Purpose

Hybrid imaging techniques can provide functional and anatomical information about sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer. Our aim in this study was to evaluate which imaging parameters on hybrid sentinel lymphoscintigraphy predicted metastatic involvement of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Among 56 patients who underwent conventional sentinel lymphoscintigraphy, 45 patients (age, 53.1 ± 9.5 years) underwent hybrid sentinel lymphoscintigraphy using a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) gamma camera. On hybrid SPECT/CT images, we compared the shape and size (long-to-short axis [L/S] ratio) of the SLN, and SLN/periareolar injection site (S/P) count ratio between metastatic and non-metastatic SLNs. Metastatic involvement of sentinel lymph nodes was confirmed by pathological biopsy.

Results

Pathological biopsy revealed that 21 patients (46.7 %) had metastatic SLNs, while 24 (53.3 %) had non-metastatic SLNs. In the 21 patients with metastatic SLNs, the SLN was mostly round (57.1 %) or had an eccentric cortical rim (38.1 %). Of 24 patients with non-metastatic SLNs, 13 patients (54.1 %) had an SLN with a C-shape rim or eccentric cortex. L/S ratio was 2.04 for metastatic SLNs and 2.38 for non-metastatic SLNs. Seven (33 %) patients had T1 primary tumors and 14 (66 %) had T2 primary tumors in the metastatic SLN group. In contrast, 18 (75 %) patients had T1 primary tumors and six (25 %) had T2 tumors in the non-metastatic SLN group. S/P count ratio was significantly lower in the metastatic SLN group than the non-metastatic SLN group for those patients with a T1 primary tumor (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Hybrid SPECT/CT offers the physiologic data of SPECT together with the anatomic data of CT in a single image. This hybrid imaging improved the anatomic localization of SLNs in breast cancer patients and predicted the metastatic involvement of SLNs in the subgroup of breast cancer patients with T1 primary tumors.     

Sentinel-node mapping in endometrial cancer patients: comparing SPECT/CT,gamma-probe and dye

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare preoperative SPECT/CT with gamma-probe and methylene blue-dye (MBD) in the identification of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in early stage endometrial cancer.

Methods

40 stage-I EC patients (66.7 ± 9.7 years) underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. After about 3 h from Tc-99m-albumin nanocolloid cervical injection, all patients underwent SPECT/CT study. MBD was injected into the cervix just before surgery under general anesthesia. All patients underwent SLN biopsy, hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and radical regional lymphadenectomy. SPECT/CT findings were compared to those of gamma-probe and MBD techniques.

Results

In 2 patients no nodal migration was observed, neither with MBD nor radiotracer. Detection rate of at least one SLN was 90% (36/40 patients) with SPECT/CT, 88% (35/40) intra-operatively with gamma-probe and 80% (32/40) with MBD. Only in 7/40 patients a bilateral migration was obtained with all considered modalities. In particular, bilateral detection was achieved in 26 patients with SPECT/CT, in 24 with gamma-probe and in 10 patients with MBD. The concordance site between SPECT/CT and intraoperative gamma-probe was 73% (29/40 patients: 2 without migration, 21 bilateral and 6 monolateral SLNs); while concordance site with MBD was found in 40% (16/40: 8 bilateral, 6 monolateral SLNs, 2 without SLNs). Overall, 628 LNs were dissected (mean 18 LNs per patient). The median number of SLNs removed was 2 (mean 2.5 per patient). Out of 91 SLNs: 43 were “hot and blue (HB)”, 10 were blue only and 38 were hot only. LN metastases rate was 16%: 9/90 SLNs (7 HB, 2 hot only) were positive for metastases in 6 patients. Four non-SLNs were found positive in 3 patients, and all presented concomitant positive SLNs. False negative rate was 0%.

Conclusions

SPECT/CT had the highest detection rate and achieved the highest rate of bilateral mapping, compared to gamma-probe and MDB. SPECT/CT had moderate concordance with gamma-probe, and it can help the intraoperative detection of SLNs providing important information about their anatomic location.