title: Current application of sentinel lymph node lymphoscintigraphy to detect various cancer metastases.
abstract: In this review article, the application of sentinel lymph node (SLN) lymphoscintigraphy not only in breast cancer and melanoma but also in cancers of the genital organs and the lungs is described. After a brief historical background, including Virchow and Cabanas' views, a description of the basic technique and the sensitivity and specificity of this technique in identifying SLN in breast cancer and melanoma are presented. In cervical and vulvar cancer and also in lung cancer, special techniques are applied before and during surgery and evaluated after surgical operation. The advantages and disadvantages of using SLN lymphoscintigraphy are described. Finally, our experience from using SLN lymphoscintigraphy, especially in cervical cancer, is presented. The technique for SLN mapping may save the patient from extended surgical procedures, indicate the pathways of lymph drainage and identify skip metastases. Nevertheless, the sensitivity of this technique should improve more in order to provide information concerning the extent of surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Collegium Medicum UJ, Endocrinology Department, Nuclear Medicine Unit, Kopernika str. 17, 31-501 Krakow, Poland. alahub@cm-uj.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hubalewska-Dydejczyk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sowa-Staszczak
authors.forename: Bohdan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huszno
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods