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Interstitial lymphoscintigraphy for lymphatic mapping in surgical practice and research
1Department of Surgery and Nuclear Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada.
Summary
Lymphoscintigraphy, a nuclear medicine imaging technique, uses small radiopharmaceutical particles for lymphatic system analysis. This method aids in diagnosing diseases like melanoma and breast cancer, offering safe and effective lymphatic mapping.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear Medicine
- Lymphatic System Imaging
Background:
- Lymphoscintigraphy provides crucial morphologic and functional data on the lymphatic system.
- Radiopharmaceutical particle size (10-100 nm) is vital for lymphatic uptake and lymph node migration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the development and application of lymphoscintigraphy and gamma-probe techniques.
- To highlight their role in surgical research and clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Utilizes small radiopharmaceutical particles (10-100 nm) prepared via simple filtering.
- Employs standard gamma cameras and optional hand-held gamma probes for imaging.
- Technetium-99m sulfur colloid is a readily available and approved radiopharmaceutical.
Main Results:
- The technique allows for safe radiation doses and is reproducible.
- Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node identification are key applications.
- Effective in staging and treating malignant melanoma and potentially breast cancer.
Conclusions:
- Lymphoscintigraphy with gamma-probe localization is a valuable tool for lymphatic mapping.
- It offers important qualitative information on lymphatic system morphology and physiology.
- These techniques enhance surgical research and clinical decision-making for various cancers.