Smaller Gamma Camera Has Limited Role in SLN Detection

Background: Use of sentinel lymph node (SLN) localization for determining the status of a patient's breast cancer has become a routine part of clinical care. Identifying the appropriate lymph nodes to resect using the radioactive agent injection localization technique with a large field of view gamma camera preoperatively is often performed, but using a small field of view camera might improve this process. Objective: To determine whether using a compact small field of view gamma camera intraoperatively would be a better method of SLN localization for breast cancer patients versus the standard larger field of view gamma camera in the preoperative setting. Design/Participants: Prospective clinical trial during a 7-month period, enrolling breast cancer patients who were planning to undergo surgical excision of SLNs at the Humanitas Research Hospital in Milan Italy. Methods: Preoperative imaging was performed after the injection of 30 MBq of 99m Tc albumin nanocolloid in the periareolar more...