Axillary 3D CT imaging with lymphoscintigraphy is useful for sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
This study examined whether 3D CT imaging with lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) is useful when performing sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in a community hospital where radioisotope with gamma-probe (RI method) is unavailable.


METHODS
From June to November 2002, 35 T1/T2 clinically node-negative breast cancer patients underwent LSG in a university nuclear medicine department. Skin areas above LSG hot spots were marked, helical CT scanning was performed and axillary 3D images were created in our hospital. The SLN predicted from the 3D images were examined for agreement with the dye method.


RESULTS
SLNs were detected with dye in 32 out of 35 patients (91.4%). In 31 of those 32 (96.9%), the SLN predicted from 3D CT images was the same. Even in the 3 dye-negative patients, CT imaging predicted the SLN. SNB including sampling was successful in 34 patients (97.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
3D CT imaging with LSG enables SNB even if the RI method is impossible.
Minato
Masako
M
Department of Radiology, National Higashi-Tokushima Hospital, 1-1, Ohmukai-kita, Ootera, Itano, Itano, Tokushima, 779-0193, Japan. mminato@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Hirose
Chieko
C
Sasa
Mitsunori
M
Nishitani
Hiromu
H
Hori
Ayuko
A
Morimoto
Tadaoki
T
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D004396:Coloring Agents