[Intra-operative radionuclide lymphatic mapping in sentinel lymph node biopsy of breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study intra-operative radionuclide lymphatic mapping in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of breast cancer.


METHODS
Forty-two breast cancer (diameter </= 5.0 cm) patients with clinically negative axillary node were analyzed. 18.5 MBq/0.5 ml technetium-99m labeled sulfur colloid (labeling yield > 98%, size of colloid granule 100 approximately 200 nm) was injected into the mammary tissue around the tumor or biopsy site at four points. SLN in breast cancer was detected and dissected with the help of lymphoscintigraphy and intra-operative gamma probe. Routine lymph node dissection was performed for all patients.


RESULTS
The detection rate was 88.1% in lymphoscintigraphy and 97.6% in intra-operative gamma probe detection for SLN in breast cancer. The sensitivity, accuracy, false negative and specificity of SLN biopsy were 93.3% (14 in 15), 97.6% (40 in 41), 6.7% (1 in 15) and 100% (26 in 26).


CONCLUSIONS
Sentinel lymph node in breast cancer, detected by preoperative lymphoscintigraphy combined with intra-operative gamma probe, is able to predict regional lymph node metastasis. The successful rate of SLN biopsy can be raised by improvement in the quality of nuclear imaging agent, technic of injection and method of measurement.
Lou
Cen
C
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Medical College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
Huang
Zhong-ke
ZK
Song
Xiang-yang
XY
Zhang
Da-ping
DP
Huang
Hua-cheng
HC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid