Evaluation of the efficacy of sentinel node detection in breast cancer: chronological course and influence of the incorporation of an intra-operative portable gamma camera

First experience with a new technique: portable gamma camera usage for sentinel lymph node identification in a patient with breast cancer

“…In order to obviate the need for axillary dissection, it is advised to achieve an identification rate of >90% and a false negativity rate of <5% according to recent guidelines (5). However, a false negativity rate below 5% is considered difficult according to the literature (5). Goni Girones et al (5) reported an increase of 1.7% in localization with additional portable gamma camera imaging.…”

“…However, a false negativity rate below 5% is considered difficult according to the literature (5). Goni Girones et al (5) reported an increase of 1.7% in localization with additional portable gamma camera imaging. These authors also report a slight increase in the number of patients with 3 or more sentinel lymph nodes, although not statistically significant (5).…”

“…Portable gamma camera imaging is a new development that provides intra-operative images of the injection site and possible SLNs. The expectations from this new modality in SLN imaging are finding out additional lymph nodes, confidence regarding the complete excision of all SLNs, and ruling out possible unexpected lymph nodes like internal mammarian lymph nodes if preoperative gamma camera imaging was not performed (5). There are limited numbers of studies concerning the performance of portable gamma camera in SLN imaging for breast cancer patients (6).…”