The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma

Single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) allows for physiological and anatomical co-registration in sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and offers additional benefits over conventional planar imaging. However, the clinical relevance when considering added costs and rad...

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Main Authors: George Bennie, Mariza Vorster, John Buscombe, Mike Sathekge
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2015-01-01
Series:World Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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Online Access:http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.150543
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author George Bennie
Mariza Vorster
John Buscombe
Mike Sathekge
author_facet George Bennie
Mariza Vorster
John Buscombe
Mike Sathekge
author_sort George Bennie
collection DOAJ
description Single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) allows for physiological and anatomical co-registration in sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and offers additional benefits over conventional planar imaging. However, the clinical relevance when considering added costs and radiation burden of these reported benefits remains somewhat uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the possible added value of SPECT-CT and intra-operative gamma-probe use over planar imaging alone in the South African setting. 80 patients with breast cancer or malignant melanoma underwent both planar and SPECT-CT imaging for SLN mapping. We assessed and compared the number of nodes detected on each study, false positive and negative findings, changes in surgical approach and or patient management. In all cases where a sentinel node was identified, SPECT-CT was more accurate anatomically. There was a significant change in surgical approach in 30 cases - breast cancer (n = 13; P 0.001) and malignant melanoma (n = 17; P 0.0002). In 4 cases a node not identified on planar imaging was seen on SPECT-CT. In 16 cases additional echelon nodes were identified. False positives were excluded by SPECT-CT in 12 cases. The addition of SPECT-CT and use of intra-operative gamma-probe to planar imaging offers important benefits in patients who present with breast cancer and melanoma. These benefits include increased nodal detection, elimination of false positives and negatives and improved anatomical localization that ultimately aids and expedites surgical management. This has been demonstrated in the context of industrialized country previously and has now also been confirmed in the setting of a emerging-market nation.
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spelling doaj-art-8e00a96e3dd449fbb33f92f17fe865f02025-08-20T02:54:43ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.World Journal of Nuclear Medicine1450-11471607-33122015-01-011401414610.4103/1450-1147.150543The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant MelanomaGeorge Bennie0Mariza Vorster1John Buscombe2Mike Sathekge3Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South AfricaSingle-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) allows for physiological and anatomical co-registration in sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and offers additional benefits over conventional planar imaging. However, the clinical relevance when considering added costs and radiation burden of these reported benefits remains somewhat uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the possible added value of SPECT-CT and intra-operative gamma-probe use over planar imaging alone in the South African setting. 80 patients with breast cancer or malignant melanoma underwent both planar and SPECT-CT imaging for SLN mapping. We assessed and compared the number of nodes detected on each study, false positive and negative findings, changes in surgical approach and or patient management. In all cases where a sentinel node was identified, SPECT-CT was more accurate anatomically. There was a significant change in surgical approach in 30 cases - breast cancer (n = 13; P 0.001) and malignant melanoma (n = 17; P 0.0002). In 4 cases a node not identified on planar imaging was seen on SPECT-CT. In 16 cases additional echelon nodes were identified. False positives were excluded by SPECT-CT in 12 cases. The addition of SPECT-CT and use of intra-operative gamma-probe to planar imaging offers important benefits in patients who present with breast cancer and melanoma. These benefits include increased nodal detection, elimination of false positives and negatives and improved anatomical localization that ultimately aids and expedites surgical management. This has been demonstrated in the context of industrialized country previously and has now also been confirmed in the setting of a emerging-market nation.http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.150543breat cancermelanomasentinel lymph nodesingle-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography
spellingShingle George Bennie
Mariza Vorster
John Buscombe
Mike Sathekge
The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
World Journal of Nuclear Medicine
breat cancer
melanoma
sentinel lymph node
single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography
title The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
title_full The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
title_fullStr The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
title_full_unstemmed The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
title_short The Added Value of a Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-Computed Tomography in Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Patients with Breast Cancer and Malignant Melanoma
title_sort added value of a single photon emission computed tomography computed tomography in sentinel lymph node mapping in patients with breast cancer and malignant melanoma
topic breat cancer
melanoma
sentinel lymph node
single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography
url http://www.thieme-connect.de/DOI/DOI?10.4103/1450-1147.150543
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