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 Clears Virtually Helium-Free 1.5T MRI System from Siemens Healthineers
June 26th 2025Offering a cost- and resource-saving DryCool magnet technology, the Magnetom Flow.Ace MRI system reportedly requires 0.7 liters of liquid helium for cooling over the lifetime of the device in contrast to over 1,000 liters commonly utilized with conventional MRI platforms.
SNMMI: Botox May Facilitate Relief from Dry Mouth Side Effect of PSMA-Targeted Radiopharmaceuticals
June 25th 2025For patients being treated with radiopharmaceutical agents for metastatic prostate cancer, the combination of botulinum toxin and an anti-nausea patch led to a 30 percent reduction in PSMA uptake in the salivary glands, according to preliminary research findings presented at the SNMMI conference.