The efficacy of 99mTc-HIG for sentinel lymph node mapping in breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of Tc-HIG on SLN identification in patients with early-stage breast cancer.


METHODS
Seventeen women (18 tumours) with early-stage breast cancer were included. On the day of the operation, 111 MBq Tc-HIG was injected around the tumour or biopsy scar in all patients. Subsequently, dynamic lymphoscintigraphic images were taken for 30 min. After this, static images were recorded at 15-20 min intervals until the SLN was visualized. Patients were taken to the operating room 2-4 h after radiopharmaceutical injection. Before the incision, 5 ml of isosulfan blue dye solution was injected peritumourally in all subjects. Aided by blue dye and gamma probe SLN detection was done during the operation.


RESULTS
In 17/18 tumours, SLN was detected with Tc-HIG lymphoscintigraphy. The mean visualization time for axillary SLNs was 49.94+/-11.25 min and for internal mammary SLNs was 52.50+/-10.60 min. In 15 of the tumours, only one SLN was detected in the axillary region. However, in two tumours, SLNs were found in both axillary and internal mammary regions. With blue dye mapping, axillary SLNs were found in 17/18 tumours. With the application of intraoperative gamma probe, all axillary and internal mammary SLNs were detected in 18 tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that Tc-HIG may be a suitable agent for SLN detection by lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative gamma probe application in early-stage breast cancer patients.
Gencoglu
Esra Arzu
EA
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Baskent University Medical Faculty, 10 Sokak No. 45, 06490 Bahcelievler, Ankara, Turkey. arzugencoglu@hotmail.com
Yalcn
Hulya
H
Yagmurdur
Mahmut
M
Ozen
Aynur
A
Basaran
Ozgur
O
Karakayal
Feza
F
Ekici
Yahya
Y
Karakayal
Hamdi
H
Aktas
Ayse
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013667:Technetium
D007136:Immunoglobulins; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C065376:technetium Tc 99m immunoglobulin; D013667:Technetium