Multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer using both technetium sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye. (17/244)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with false-negative results on sentinel node biopsy and sentinel node localization (identification rate) in patients with breast cancer enrolled in a multicenter trial using a combination technique of isosulfan blue with technetium sulfur colloid (Tc99). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Sentinel node biopsy is a diagnostic test used to detect breast cancer metastases. To test the reliability of this method, a complete lymph node dissection must be performed to determine the false-negative rate. Single-institution series have reported excellent results, although one multicenter trial reported a false-negative rate as high as 29% using radioisotope alone. A multicenter trial was initiated to test combined use of Tc99 and isosulfan blue. METHODS: Investigators (both private-practice and academic surgeons) were recruited after attending a course on the technique of sentinel node biopsy. No investigator participated in a learning trial before entering patients. Tc99 and isosulfan blue were injected into the peritumoral region. RESULTS: Five hundred twenty-nine patients underwent 535 sentinel node biopsy procedures for an overall identification rate in finding a sentinel node of 87% and a false-negative rate of 13%. The identification rate increased and the false-negative rate decreased to 90% and 4.3%, respectively, after investigators had performed more than 30 cases. Univariate analysis of tumor showed the poorest success rate with older patients and inexperienced surgeons. Multivariate analysis identified both age and experience as independent predictors of failure. However, with older patients, inexperienced surgeons, and patients with five or more metastatic axillary nodes, the false-negative rate was consistently greater. CONCLUSIONS: This multicenter trial, from both private practice and academic institutions, is an excellent indicator of the general utility of sentinel node biopsy. It establishes the factors that play an important role (patient age, surgical experience, tumor location) and those that are irrelevant (prior surgery, tumor size, Tc99 timing). This widens the applicability of the technique and identifies factors that require further investigation.  (+info)

Methodology for the measurement of mucociliary function in the mouse by scintigraphy. (18/244)

The objective of the study was to develop a scintigraphic method for measurement of airway mucociliary clearance in small laboratory rodents such as the mouse. Previous investigations have characterized the secretory cell types present in the mouse airway, but analysis of the mucus transport system has been limited to in vitro examination of tissue explants or invasive in vivo measures of a single airway, the trachea. Three methods were used to deposit insoluble, radioisotopic colloidal particles: oropharyngeal aspiration, intratracheal instillation, and nose-only aerosol inhalation. The initial distribution of particles within the lower respiratory tract was visualized by gamma-camera, and clearance of particles was followed intermittently over 6 h and at the conclusion, 24 h postdelivery. Subsets of mice underwent lavage for evidence of tissue inflammation, and others were restudied for reproducibility of the methods. The aspiration and instillation methods of delivery led to greater distributions of deposited activity within the lungs, i.e., approximately 60--80% of the total respiratory tract radioactivity, whereas the nose-only aerosol technique attained a distribution of 32% to the lungs. However, the aerosol technique maximized the fraction of particles that cleared the airway over a 24-h period, i.e, deposited onto airway epithelial surfaces and cleared by mucociliary function such that lung retention at 24 h averaged 57% for delivery by aerosol inhalation and > or =80% for the aspiration or intratracheal instillation techniques. Particle delivery methods did not cause lung inflammation/injury with use of inflammatory cells and chemoattractant cytokines as criteria. Scintigraphy can discern particle deposition and clearance from the lower respiratory tract in the mouse, is noninvasive and reproducible, and includes the capability for restudy and lung lavage when time course or chronic treatments are being considered.  (+info)

Lymphoscintigraphy using (99m)Tc filtered sulfur colloid in chylothorax: a case report. (19/244)

OBJECTIVE: A 66-y-old man was diagnosed with esophageal carcinoma and underwent a right thoracotomy and esophagectomy. Postoperatively, a recurring right pleural effusion developed. Because an attempt at lymphangiography failed, lymphoscintigraphy was suggested. Because of the inability to obtain radiolabeled albumin, dextran, or nanocolloid, we used filtered sulfur colloid. (0.1 um). The study confirmed the diagnosis of chylothorax.  (+info)

Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node localization in breast cancer patients: a comparison between 1-day and 2-day protocols. (20/244)

The purpose of this study was to compare the results of isotope injection the morning of surgery (1-d protocol) with isotope injection the day before surgery (2-d protocol) in patients having sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for breast cancer. METHODS: The 1-d (protocol 1) and 2-d (protocol 2) protocols included 514 and 152 patients, respectively, treated contemporaneously by surgeons experienced with the SLN biopsy technique. All had preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) and SLN biopsy using both blue dye and (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid. All patients had a single-site intradermal injection of unfiltered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid in 0.05 mL normal saline: 3.7 MBq (0.1 mCi) on the morning of surgery for protocol 1 and 18.5 MBq (0.5 mCi) on the afternoon before surgery for protocol 2. RESULTS: The patients in protocols 1 and 2 were comparable in terms of age, tumor size, tumor location, histologic type, node positivity, and frequency of a previous surgical biopsy. Comparing protocols 1 and 2, early (30 min) LSG images found the SLN equally often (69% vs. 68%). Isotope identified the SLN equally often at surgery (93% vs. 97%) as did isotope plus dye (98% vs. 99%). A comparable number of SLNs was found (2.5 vs. 2.8 per axilla), and the concordance between isotope and dye in the SLN was also comparable (97% vs. 95%). Late LSG images (at 2 h, possible only for protocol 2) identified the SLN in significantly more patients compared with early images (86% vs. 68%). CONCLUSION: With unfiltered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid injected intradermally, the results of SLN biopsy under the 1-d and 2-d protocols are virtually identical. A 2-d protocol allows increased efficiency in scheduling, both for nuclear medicine physicians and for the operating room, with no compromise in the effectiveness of SLN mapping.  (+info)

Dermal injection of radioactive colloid is superior to peritumoral injection for breast cancer sentinel lymph node biopsy: results of a multiinstitutional study. (21/244)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal radioactive colloid injection technique for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for breast cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The optimal radioactive colloid injection technique for breast cancer SLN biopsy has not yet been defined. Peritumoral injection of radioactive colloid has been used in most studies. Although dermal injection of radioactive colloid has been proposed, no published data exist to establish the false-negative rate associated with this technique. METHODS: The University of Louisville Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Study is a multiinstitutional study involving 229 surgeons. Patients with clinical stage T1-2, N0 breast cancer were eligible for the study. All patients underwent SLN biopsy, followed by level I/II axillary dissection. Peritumoral, subdermal, or dermal injection of radioactive colloid was performed at the discretion of the operating surgeon. Peritumoral injection of isosulfan blue dye was performed concomitantly in most patients. The SLN identification rates and false-negative rates were compared. The ratios of the transcutaneous and ex vivo radioactive SLN count to the final background count were calculated as a measure of the relative degree of radioactivity of the nodes. One-way analysis of variance and chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 2,206 patients were enrolled. Peritumoral, subdermal, or dermal injection of radioactive colloid was performed in 1,074, 297, and 511 patients, respectively. Most of the patients (94%) who underwent radioactive colloid injection also received peritumoral blue dye injection. The SLN identification rate was improved by the use of dermal injection compared with subdermal or peritumoral injection of radioactive colloid. The false-negative rates were 9.5%, 7.8%, and 6.5% (not significant) for peritumoral, subdermal, and dermal injection techniques, respectively. The relative degree of radioactivity of the SLN was five- to sevenfold higher with the dermal injection technique compared with peritumoral injection. CONCLUSIONS: Dermal injection of radioactive colloid significantly improves the SLN identification rate compared with peritumoral or subdermal injection. The false-negative rate is also minimized by the use of dermal injection. Dermal injection also is associated with SLNs that are five- to sevenfold more radioactive than with peritumoral injection, which simplifies SLN localization and may shorten the learning curve.  (+info)

A synthetic macromolecule for sentinel node detection: (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran. (22/244)

We report the synthesis and preliminary biologic testing of a synthetic macromolecule, (99m)Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)--mannosyl-dextran, for sentinel node detection. METHODS: Synthesis started with a 2-step process that attaches a high density of amino-terminated leashes to a dextran backbone. Allyl-bromide was reacted with pharmaceutical-grade dextran to yield allyl-dextran. After diafiltration with water, filtration, and lyophilization, the product was reacted with aminoethanethiol and ammonium persulfate. The resulting amino-conjugated dextran was dialyzed, filtered, and lyophilized. The mixed anhydride method was used to attach DTPA; after dialysis, filtration, and lyophilization, 2-imino-2-methoxyethyl-1-D-mannose was used to attach the receptor substrate. The molecular diameter was measured by dynamic light scattering. Amino, mannose, and DTPA densities were measured by trinitrobenzene sulfonate assay, sulfuric acid/phenol assay, and inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy of gadolinium-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran, respectively. Receptor affinity was measured by Scatchard assay of rabbit liver. Axillary, popliteal, and iliac lymph nodes and each injection site were assayed for radioactivity at 1 and 3 h after injection of approximately 3.7 MBq (0.050 mL) (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran (0.22 nmol) or filtered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid into the foot pads. Four animals were studied at each time point. RESULTS: DTPA-mannosyl-dextran had a molecular weight of 35,800 g/mol and a molecular diameter of 7.1 nm. The final amine, mannose, and DTPA densities were 23, 55, and 8 mol per dextran. Labeling yields were in excess of 98% and stable for 6 h. Specific activities of 74 x 10(6) GBq/mol were achieved. The equilibrium dissociation constant for binding to the mannose-terminated glycoprotein receptor was 0.12 +/- 0.07 nmol/L. The popliteal extraction at both 1 h and 3 h was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran (90.1% +/- 10.7% and 97.7% +/- 2.0%, respectively) than for filtered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid (78.8 +/- 6.5 and 67.4% +/- 26.8%, respectively). (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran exhibited significantly faster injection site clearance than did filtered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid. The (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran percentage injected dose (%ID) for the front and rear paws was 52.6 +/- 10.5 and 52.3 +/- 8.0 at 1 h and 45.7 +/- 8.5 and 43.6 +/- 8.2 at 3 h after administration. The filtered (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid %ID for the front and rear paws was 70.4 +/- 11.0 and 66.3 +/- 15.1 at 1 h and 55.5 +/- 7.8 and 66.9 +/- 8.5 at 3 h. Lymph node accumulation of each agent at either 1 or 3 h was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: (99m)Tc-DTPA-mannosyl-dextran is a receptor-based sentinel node radiotracer that exhibits the desired properties of rapid injection site clearance and low distal node accumulation. This molecule is the first member of a new class of diagnostic agents based on a macromolecular backbone with a high density of sites for the attachment of substrates and imaging reporters.  (+info)

Pulmonary scintigraphy for diagnosis of aspiration during intravenous propofol anaesthesia for colonoscopy. (23/244)

A specific technique for detection of pulmonary aspiration during the perioperative period is lacking. In this study, we developed a scintigraphic method for its diagnosis. Technetium 99m sulphur colloid was given orally 2 h before an i.v. infusion of propofol in patients undergoing elective colonoscopy. During the procedure, patients were spontaneously breathing 100% oxygen via a face mask. After recovery from anaesthesia, patients had a chest scinti-scan. As a control group, 10 healthy men were studied. The lung scan was considered positive if any tracer activity greater than background level was detected in the lung field. Among 96 patients studied, three patients had a positive chest scinti-scan. One of the three patients developed pneumonia while the other two remained asymptomatic. In none of the control asymptomatic group was tracer detected in the chest. We suggest that this technique is specific and can be used as a tool to assess the risk of pulmonary aspiration during different anaesthetic procedures.  (+info)

Sentinel lymph-node biopsy for melanoma of the trunk and extremities: the McGill experience. (24/244)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of sentinel lymph-node (SLN) biopsy for melanoma of the trunk and extremities. DESIGN: Case series review. SETTING: Royal Victoria Hospital, a Canadian university hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-six patients (18 women and 18 men) seen between October 1996 and December 1998 with melanoma 1 mm or more in thickness with clinically negative lymph-node basins. Follow-up was 396 days. INTERVENTIONS: SLN biopsy. Technetium-99m filtered sulfur colloid (0.5 mCi) was injected intradermally around the melanoma or the excision scar 10 to 15 minutes before the surgical skin preparation. The identification of the SLN(s) was done with a hand-held gamma probe. Local anesthesia was used mostly for inguinal SLN biopsy whereas general anesthesia was usually required for axillary SLN biopsy. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was used only for trunk melanomas. OUTCOME MEASURES: Morbidity, successful identification of the sentinel node and locoregional recurrence. RESULTS: The mean age of patients at diagnosis was 53.4 years (range from 22-76 yr). The melanomas were distributed between the lower extremities (20 patients), upper extremities (8 patients) and trunk (8 patients). The mean Breslow thickness was 2.35 mm (range from 1-8 mm). Lymphoscintigraphy accurately localized the lymph-node drainage basin for trunk melanomas. In 1 patient the SLN could not be identified because the radiocolloid failed to migrate (failure rate 2.8%). The average number of SLNs removed was 1.97. Eight patients (22%) had sentinel nodes positive for malignant disease. The postoperative complication rate was 8.5%. Seven of 8 patients with positive SLNs underwent a complete node dissection (1 patient refused). Of the completion dissections only 2 patients had positive non-SLNs. All patients with positive nodes received interferon alpha-2b as adjuvant treatment. At follow-up, 34 patients are alive with no evidence of disease, 1 patient with a positive SLN is alive with distant metastatic disease and 1 patient with a negative SLN is dead of disseminated disease. CONCLUSION: SLN biopsy is a feasible technique with an acceptable failure rate and is thus a useful tool in the surgical management of melanoma.  (+info)