title: [Added value of SPECT/CT over planar imaging in improving sentinel node detection in breast cancer patients].
abstract: The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic contribution of hybrid SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy compared to planar imaging for the correct identification of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in breast cancer (BC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  73 planar and SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphies were performed in 70 consecutive patients with BC (70 women, mean age 55.7±12.0 years, range 26-84) for pre-surgical SLNs research. Cohen'K was performed to evaluate the agreement between both techniques; their diagnostic capability was evaluated by the Student's t-test for paired data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 54/73 (73.9%) lymphoscintigraphies, SLNs were detected both on planar and SPECT/CT images. In 19/73 (26.1%) discordant cases, planar technique showed a higher number of SLNs in 4/19 lymphoscintigraphies, while SPECT/CT in 15/19. Radio-guided surgery confirmed SPECT/CT findings. Concordance between the two techniques was poor (K=-0.095). Overall, SPECT/CT detected 13 SLNs more than planar imaging (p=0.07). Furthermore, in 17/73 (23.2%) lymphoscintigraphies, SPECT/CT defined the exact SLNs anatomical localization, equivocal on planar images.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SPECT/CT demonstrated added value over planar imaging, providing more information for the best surgical approach. It is useful especially in patients with negative or doubt planar imaging.
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Frusciante
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro"
authors: Artor
authors: A
authors: Niccoli Asabella
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Castriotta
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Guerra
authors: UO Chirurgia Senologica, IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Murgo
authors: UO Chirurgia Senologica, IRCCS, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Ciuffreda
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro"
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Lavelli
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro"
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Ferrari
authors: UO Medicina Nucleare, Dipartimento Interdisciplinare di Medicina, Università di Bari "Aldo Moro"
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Rubini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes; D061305:Lymphoscintigraphy; D008875:Middle Aged; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed