title: Portable gamma camera guidance in sentinel lymph node biopsy: prospective observational study of consecutive cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the most important tool available for node staging in patients with melanoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze sentinel lymph node detection and dissection with radio guidance from a portable gamma camera. To assess the number of complications attributable to this biopsy technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective observational study of a consecutive series of patients undergoing radioguided sentinel lymph node biopsy. We analyzed agreement between nodes detected by presurgical lymphography, those detected by the gamma camera, and those finally dissected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 29 patients (17 women [62.5%] and 12 men [37.5%]) were enrolled. The mean age was 52.6 years (range, 26-82 years). The sentinel node was dissected from all patients; secondary nodes were dissected from some. In 16 cases (55.2%), there was agreement between the number of nodes detected by lymphography, those detected by the gamma camera, and those finally dissected. The only complications observed were seromas (3.64%). No cases of wound dehiscence, infection, hematoma, or hemorrhage were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Portable gamma-camera radio guidance may be of use in improving the detection and dissection of sentinel lymph nodes and may also reduce complications. These goals are essential in a procedure whose purpose is melanoma staging.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España. Electronic address: fperal@aedv.es.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peral Rubio
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de La Riva
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moreno-Ramírez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrándiz-Pulido
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D015902:Gamma Cameras; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D049291:Seroma / Q000209:etiology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela; Gammacámara portátil; Melanoma; Portable gamma camera; Sentinel lymph node biopsy