Adjusting the radioisotope tracer dose according to the body mass index does not enhance the visualization of axillary sentinel lymph nodes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the visualization of axillary sentinel nodes (SN) in the lymphoscintigraphy (LS) can be enhanced by adjusting the amount of radioactivity in accordance with the patient's body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Group I consisted of 356 consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent LS and SN biopsy after a single, intratumoral radioactive tracer injection with a median dose of 92 MBq. In group II (178 consecutive patients), the dose of the tracer was adjusted according to BMI; 80, 100, or 140 MBq.


RESULTS
The visualization rate of axillary SN was 86% in group I and 83% in group II (P = 0.303). In patients with BMI >30 with visualized axillary SN, the median number of SN was 1 (1-4) in group I and 3 (1-7) in group II (P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Adjusting the tracer dose in accordance with patient BMI did not enhance the visualization rate of axillary SN in LS.
Leikola
J P
JP
Breast Surgery Unit, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. junnu.leikola@hus.fi
Leppänen
E A
EA
von Smitten
K A J
KA
Leidenius
M H K
MH
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C083602:technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid