title: Lymphoscintigraphy for sentinel node mapping using a hybrid single photon emission CT (SPECT)/CT system in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed the added clinical value of fused single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and low-dose CT images compared with planar images for sentinel node (SN) mapping in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed biopsy-proven SCC of the oral cavity were enrolled. Scintigraphy was performed using a hybrid gamma-camera/low-dose CT system. Planar images and fused SPECT/CT images were interpreted separately. All patients underwent a sentinel node biopsy (SNB) followed by a neck dissection. All SNs underwent meticulous pathologic examination and immunohistochemistry staining (cytokeratin complex) in addition to routine pathologic examinations of the neck dissection specimen.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity for the detection of nodal metastases was 87.5%. SPECT/CT improved SN identification and/or localization compared with planar images in 6 patients (30%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPECT/CT SN mapping provides additional preoperative data of clinical relevance to SNB in patients with oral cavity SCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 64239.
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khafif
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneebaum
authors.forename: Dan M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fliss
authors.forename: Hedva
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lerman
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Metser
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ben-Yosef
authors.forename: Ziv
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reider-Trejo
authors.forename: Livshitz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genadi
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Even-Sapir
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008220:Lymphography / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed