<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><bold>Introduction.</bold> Lymphoscintigraphy is an important part of sentinel node mapping in breast cancer patients. Sometimes star shaped artefacts due to septal penetration can be problematic during imaging. In the current study, we evaluated the possibility of high energy (HE) collimators use for lymphoscintigraphy.<bold>Patients and methods.</bold> Twenty patients with early breast carcinoma were included. Thirty minutes after radiotracer injection (99mTc-antimony sulphide colloid), anterior and lateral images were acquired using a dual head gamma camera equipped with a parallel hole low energy high resolution (LEHR) collimator on one head and HE collimator on another head. All images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists regarding detectability and number of axillary sentinel nodes and presence of star artefact.<bold>Results.</bold> All images taken by LEHR collimators showed star artefact of the injection site. No image taken by HE collimator showed this effect. In two patients the sentinel node was visible only by HE collimator. Tumour location in both of these patients was in the upper lateral quadrant and both had history of excisional biopsy. In two patients additional sentinel node was visible adjacent to the first one only on the LEHR images.<bold>Conclusions.</bold> HE collimators can be used for sentinel lymph node mapping and lymphoscintigraphy of the breast cancer patients. This collimator can almost eliminate star-shaped artefacts due to septal penetration which can be advantageous in some cases. However, to separate two adjacent sentinel nodes from each other LEHR collimators perform better.</abstract>

Introduction. Lymphoscintigraphy is an important part of sentinel node mapping in breast cancer patients. Sometimes star shaped artefacts due to septal penetration can be problematic during imaging. In the current study, we evaluated the possibility of high energy (HE) collimators use for lymphoscintigraphy.Patients and methods. Twenty patients with early breast carcinoma were included. Thirty minutes after radiotracer injection (99mTc-antimony sulphide colloid), anterior and lateral images were acquired using a dual head gamma camera equipped with a parallel hole low energy high resolution (LEHR) collimator on one head and HE collimator on another head. All images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine specialists regarding detectability and number of axillary sentinel nodes and presence of star artefact.Results. All images taken by LEHR collimators showed star artefact of the injection site. No image taken by HE collimator showed this effect. In two patients the sentinel node was visible only by HE collimator. Tumour location in both of these patients was in the upper lateral quadrant and both had history of excisional biopsy. In two patients additional sentinel node was visible adjacent to the first one only on the LEHR images.Conclusions. HE collimators can be used for sentinel lymph node mapping and lymphoscintigraphy of the breast cancer patients. This collimator can almost eliminate star-shaped artefacts due to septal penetration which can be advantageous in some cases. However, to separate two adjacent sentinel nodes from each other LEHR collimators perform better.

Efficacy of high-energy collimator for sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy of early breast cancer patients

Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Surgical Oncology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Cancer Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Radiology and Oncology

Introduction. Lymphoscintigraphy is an important part of sentinel node mapping in breast cancer patients. Sometimes star shaped artefacts due to septal...

Efficacy of high-energy collimator for sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy of early breast cancer patients

Publié en ligne: 06 févr. 2012

Pages: 75 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-012-0013-3

Mots clés
sentinel node, lymphoscintigraphy, collimator, HEAP, high energy all purpose, low energy high resolution, LEHR

This content is open access.

Efficacy of high-energy collimator for sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy of early breast cancer patients

Publié en ligne: 06 févr. 2012

Pages: 75 - 80

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10019-012-0013-3

Mots cléssentinel node, lymphoscintigraphy, collimator, HEAP, high energy all purpose, low energy high resolution, LEHR

This content is open access.

Mots clés
sentinel node, lymphoscintigraphy, collimator, HEAP, high energy all purpose, low energy high resolution, LEHR