Multimodal fusion imaging ensemble for targeted sentinel lymph node management: initial results of an innovative promising approach for anatomically difficult lymphatic drainage in different tumour entities.
OBJECTIVE
There are situations where exact identification and localisation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are very difficult using lymphoscintigraphy, a hand-held gamma probe and vital dye, either a priori or a posteriori. We developed a new method using a simultaneous injection of two lymphotropic agents for exact topographical tomographic localisation and biopsy of draining SLNs. The purpose of this prospective pilot study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this method ensemble.


METHODS
Fourteen patients with different tumour entities were enrolled. A mixture of (99m)Tc-nanocolloid and a dissolved superparamagnetic iron oxide was injected interstitially. Dynamic, sequential static lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT served as pathfinders. MR imaging was performed 2 h after injection. SPECT, contrast MRI and, if necessary, CT scan data sets were fused and evaluated with special regard to the topographical location of SLNs. The day after injection, nine patients underwent SLN biopsy and, in the presence of SLN metastasis, an elective lymph node dissection.


RESULTS
Twenty-five SLNs were localised in the 14 patients examined. A 100% fusion correlation was achieved in all patients. The anatomical sites of SLNs detected during surgery showed 100% agreement with those localised on the multimodal fusion images. SLNs could be excised in 11/14 patients, six of whom had nodal metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our novel approach of multimodal fusion imaging for targeted SLN management in primary tumours with lymphatic drainage to anatomically difficult regions enables SLN biopsy even in patients with lymphatic drainage to obscure regions. Currently, we are testing its validity in larger patient groups and other tumour entities.
Maza
Sofiane
S
Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin, Schumannstrasse 20-21, 10117 Berlin, Germany. sofianem@web.de
Taupitz
Mathias
M
Taymoorian
Kasra
K
Winzer
Klaus Jürgen
KJ
Rückert
Jens
J
Paschen
Christian
C
Räber
Gert
G
Schneider
Sylke
S
Trefzer
Uwe
U
Munz
Dieter L
DL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C427127:superparamagnetic blood pool agent; C083602:technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide