title: Clinical relevance of novel imaging technologies for sentinel lymph node identification and staging.
abstract: The sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept has become a standard of care for patients with breast cancer and melanoma, yet its clinical application to other cancer types has been somewhat limited. This is mainly due to the reduced accuracy of conventional SLN mapping techniques (using blue dye and/or radiocolloids as lymphatic tracers) in cancer types where lymphatic drainage is more complex, and SLNs are within close proximity to other nodes or the tumour site. In recent years, many novel techniques for SLN mapping have been developed including fluorescence, x-ray, and magnetic resonant detection. Whilst each technique has its own advantages/disadvantages, the role of targeted contrast agents (for enhanced retention in the SLN, or for immunostaging) is increasing, and may represent the new standard for mapping the SLN in many solid organ tumours. This review article discusses current limitations of conventional techniques, limiting factors of nanoparticulate based contrast agents, and efforts to circumvent these limitations with modern tracer architecture.
authors.affiliation: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: Aidan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cousins
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
authors.forename: A Bruce
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Wedding
authors.affiliation: Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia. Electronic address: Benjamin.Thierry@unisa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thierry
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011849:Radioactive Tracers
keywords: Cancer diagnostic; Imaging; MRI; Metastasis; Nanotechnology; Nuclear medicine; PET; Prognostic