Hot nodes emerge in obese women

Article

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.

Recent Videos
Improving Access to Nuclear Imaging: An Interview with SNMMI President Jean-Luc C. Urbain, MD, PhD
SNMMI: 18F-Piflufolastat PSMA PET/CT Offers High PPV for Local PCa Recurrence Regardless of PSA Level
SNMMI: NIH Researcher Discusses Potential of 18F-Fluciclovine for Multiple Myeloma Detection
SNMMI: What Tau PET Findings May Reveal About Modifiable Factors for Alzheimer’s Disease
Emerging Insights on the Use of FES PET for Women with Lobular Breast Cancer
Can Generative AI Reinvent Radiology Reporting?: An Interview with Samir Abboud, MD
Mammography Study Reveals Over Sixfold Higher Risk of Advanced Cancer Presentation with Symptom-Detected Cancers
Combining Advances in Computed Tomography Angiography with AI to Enhance Preventive Care
Study: MRI-Based AI Enhances Detection of Seminal Vesicle Invasion in Prostate Cancer
What New Research Reveals About the Impact of AI and DBT Screening: An Interview with Manisha Bahl, MD
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.