While identifying sentinel nodes with lymphoscintigraphy can have a significant impact on the treatment and outcome of breast cancer, the planar imaging technique is less than optimal for overweight women.
While identifying sentinel nodes with lymphoscintigraphy can have a significant impact on the treatment and outcome of breast cancer, the planar imaging technique is less than optimal for overweight women. Multiplanar SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy may change that.
Dr. Hedva Lerman and colleagues at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel found that overall SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy detects more sentinel nodes not identified with planar imaging or intraoperative blue dye. In overweight women, however, the difference was statistically significant. (JNM 2007;48[2]:201-206).
"Obesity is a significant factor in why lymphoscintigraphy fails and leads to occasional-and unnecessary-full axillary lymph node dissection," Lerman said.
Researchers don't know exactly why planar imaging fails in overweight patients, but they speculate that adipose tissue in the lymph nodes may compromise the test's accuracy.
FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Emerging Agent for Brain PET Imaging
June 11th 2025Currently being evaluated in a phase 2b clinical trial, the 18F-RAD101 PET imaging agent garnered the FDA’s fast track designation for distinguishing between recurrent disease and treatment impact for brain metastases derived from solid tumors.
New PSMA PET Prep Product Now Available in the U.S.
June 11th 2025Offering an extended shelf life, the FDA-approved Gozellix, a preparation kit for gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide injection, is indicated for use in PSMA PET imaging of prostate cancer patients with suspected recurrence or metastasis.