Can SPET/CT Technique Improve the Sentinel Lymph Node Radio- Guided Research in Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma?

Authors

  • Artor Niccoli Asabella Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Valentina Lavelli Valentina Lavelli Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Cristina Ferrari Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Nunzio Merenda Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Francesca Iuele Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Emilio Paolo Mossa Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Valentina Loseto Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari
  • Giuseppe Rubini Nuclear Medicine Unit, University of Bari

Keywords:

Malignant melanoma, Sentinel node, Lymphoscintigraphy, Planar scintigraphy, SPECT/CT.

Abstract

Background: the aim of the study is to define the role of SPET/CT in radio-guided sentinel lymph node surgery identification in cutaneous Malignant Melanoma (MM) and to assess if SPET/CT data can modify surgery time.
Materials and Methods: 96 patients with MM (58 men and 38 women, mean age of 44 years, range 14-71 years) were divided into two groups. 66 patients (group I) were submitted to sentinel node (SN) research by planar
lymphoscintigraphy; 30 patients (group II) performed both planar and SPET/CT lymphoscintigraphy. SN surgery identification percentage, SN anatomical site identification and surgery times were evaluated in each group.
Results: Group II presented a percentage of SN surgery identification, both globally (96.5%) and in specific sites (axilla lymph nodes 94.5%; upon clavicle lymph nodes 100%), better than group I. Furthermore surgery time was shorter in the group II (10’-20’).
Conclusions: SPET/CT allows a more accurate SN identification than planar lymphoscintigraphy, especially in axillar and upon-clavicular nodes and contributes to a correct staging of cutaneous MM. It can improve surgery success percentage and shortens surgery time, reducing also surgery team irradiation.

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Published

2016-03-17

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Articles

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