title: New method of sentinel node identification with ultrasonography using albumin as contrast agent: a study in pigs.
abstract: The purpose of our study was to verify in animals the possibility of using albumin-enhanced ultrasonography as a modality for sentinel node detection. The nine pigs were injected subcutaneously in the neck with albumin, five with 5% solution and four with 25% solution, and then the regional lymph nodes were observed over time. It was found that, where the 5% solution had been injected, the lymph nodes showed no change, but where the 25% solution had been used, a high echo 1 to 5 mm in size was seen at the hilus of the nearest lymph node. Examination of the excised pathologic specimens of lymph nodes demonstrated that this echo was due to albumin accumulated in the efferent lymphatics. This finding suggested that this technique of ultrasonography using albumin as a contrast agent was an effective new method of identifying sentinel nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan. kiyoka@jichi.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kiyoka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omoto
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizunuma
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogura
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hozumi
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins; D000818:Animals; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D023421:Models, Animal; D009333:Neck; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D003287:Contrast Media