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Radiopharmaceuticals in sentinel lymph-node detection - an overview.
A J Wilhelm1, G S Mijnhout, E J Franssen
1Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine
|April 13, 1999
Summary
Sentinel node biopsy is key for staging melanoma and breast cancer. Technetium-99m-sulfur colloid and other tracers accurately locate sentinel nodes for improved patient staging.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear medicine
- Oncology
- Surgical pathology
Background:
- Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is crucial for regional staging in melanoma and breast cancer.
- Lymphoscintigraphy is essential for identifying SNs.
- Several radiopharmaceuticals are available for lymphoscintigraphy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review radiopharmaceuticals for sentinel-node biopsy.
- To assess their suitability for SN localization in cancer staging.
Main Methods:
- Review of radiopharmaceuticals used in lymphoscintigraphy.
- Evaluation of technetium-99m-sulfur colloid (99mTc-SC), 99mTc antimony trisulfide colloid (99mTc-ATC), and 99mTc nanocolloidal albumin (99mTc-CA).
Main Results:
- Accurate SN localization is achieved with 99mTc-SC, 99mTc-ATC, and 99mTc-CA.
- 99mTc-CA and 99mTc-SC are available in Europe.
- 99mTc-SC is the sole registered lymphoscintigraphy tracer in the United States.
Conclusions:
- Technetium-99m-based radiocolloids are effective for sentinel node localization.
- Availability and registration status of tracers vary by region.
- These agents are vital for accurate cancer staging.