Axillary 3D CT imaging with lymphoscintigraphy is useful for sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer.

摘要

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether 3D CT imaging with lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) is useful when performing sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in a community hospital where radioisotope with gamma-probe (RI method) is unavailable. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June to November 2002, 35 T1/T2 clinically node-negative breast cancer patients underwent LSG in a university nuclear medicine department. Skin areas above LSG hot spots were marked, helical CT scanning was performed and axillary 3D images were created in our hospital. The SLN predicted from the 3D images were examined for agreement with the dye method. RESULTS: SLNs were detected with dye in 32 out of 35 patients (91.4%). In 31 of those 32 (96.9%), the SLN predicted from 3D CT images was the same. Even in the 3 dye-negative patients, CT imaging predicted the SLN. SNB including sampling was successful in 34 patients (97.1%). CONCLUSION: 3D CT imaging with LSG enables SNB even if the RI method is impossible.