Validation of combined radionuclide scintigraphy and Gamma- Probe in detection of Sentinel node in Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major health problem accotmting for 32 % of all malignancies and I8 % of cancer related deaths. Axillary pathological status is the strongest known prognostic variable that influence the patients management decision. The SN is the first LN that develops metastasis before other nodes, so SN can be used as an accurate predictor of regional nodal status. This work aimed to test the validity of combined lymphoscintigraphy and gmmna probe in detection of SN and correlate the SN pathology with the axillary pathological status. 44 breast cancer patients were studied where RNLS was positive in 37/44 patients and gamma probe was positive in 39/44 patients.

Our results revealed

I- The overall accuracy of combined RNLS and gatnma probe in detection of SN was 88.6 %. 2- The late static image had ofRNLS has the highest sensitivity in detection of SN which atnounted to 84 %. 3- Lymphoscintigraphy had higher sensitivity tl an gatmna probe indetection of SN out side the axilla. 4- SN pathology can accurately predict the state of the axillary nodes with sensitivity and negative predictive value of I 00%.