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Stathaki MI, Kapsoritakis N, Michelakis D, Anagnostopoulou E, Bourogianni O, Tsaroucha A, Papadaki E, de Bree E, Koukouraki S. The impact of sentinel lymph node mapping with hybrid single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in patients with melanoma. Comparison to planar radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy. Melanoma Res 2023; 33:239-246. [PMID: 37053074 DOI: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
We studied the diagnostic value of 16 slices of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) in the anatomical localization, image interpretation and extra-sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) detection compared to dynamic and static planar radioisotopic lymphoscintigraphy (PLS) in patients with melanoma. Eighty-two patients with melanoma underwent dynamic PLS, static PLS and SPECT/CT. Data were obtained using a dual head SPECT/CT 16 slices γ-camera. We evaluated the number and localization of SLNs detected with each imaging method. SPECT/CT demonstrated 48 additional SLNs in comparison with PLS in 29 patients. In five truncal and seven head-neck lesions, dynamic and static PLS failed to detect the SLNs found on SPECT/CT (false negative). In one case of truncal and one case of lower limb melanoma, the foci of increased activity interpreted on PLS as possible SLNs were confirmed to be non-nodal sites of uptake on SPECT/CT (false positive). PLS underestimated the number of SLNs detected, whereas SPECT/CT revealed higher agreement compared to the respective number from histological reports. SPECT/CT showed a better prediction of the number of SLNs and higher diagnostic parameters in comparison to planar imaging. SPECT/CT is an important complementary diagnostic modality to PLS, that improves detection, preoperative evaluation, anatomical landmarks of SLNs and surgical management of patients with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria I Stathaki
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion
| | | | | | | | - Olga Bourogianni
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion
| | | | | | - Eelco de Bree
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Quartuccio N, Garau LM, Arnone A, Pappalardo M, Rubello D, Arnone G, Manca G. Comparison of 99mTc-Labeled Colloid SPECT/CT and Planar Lymphoscintigraphy in Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Patients with Melanoma: A Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9061680. [PMID: 32498217 PMCID: PMC7356992 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9061680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We compared the detection rate (DR) for sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), the number of SLNs and the subjects with additional SLNs of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and planar lymphoscintigraphy (PL) in patients with melanoma. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of SPECT/CT on surgical plans. Articles containing head-to-head comparisons between SPECT/CT and PL were searched in Pubmed/MEDLINE and Scopus. The literature search was updated until December 31st, 2019. DR was calculated on a per patient-based analysis; the studies were pooled by their odds ratios (ORs) with a random effects model to assess the significance of difference (p < 0.05). The number of additional SLNs (calculated as the relative risk) and pooled proportion of patients with additional SLNs were investigated. The pooled ratio of surgical procedures influenced by the SPECT/CT findings was calculated. Seventeen studies with 1438 patients were eligible for the calculation of DR of SPECT/CT and PL. The average DR was 98.28% (95% confidence interval (95% CI): 97.94-99.19%) for the SPECT/CT and 95.53% (95% CI: 92.55-97.77%) for the PL; OR of 2.31 (95% CI: 1.66-4.18, p < 0.001) in favor of the SPECT/CT. There was a relative risk of a higher number of SLNs (1.13) for the SPECT/CT and 17.87% of patients with additional SLNs were detected by SPECT/CT. The average impact of SPECT/CT on surgery resulted in 37.43% of cases. This meta-analysis favored SPECT/CT over PL for the identification of SLNs in patients with melanoma due to a higher DR, reproducibility, number of SLNs depicted, proportion of patients with additional SLNs and the impact on the surgical plan. However, PL remains a good option due to the high values of the DR for SLNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natale Quartuccio
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (N.Q.); (A.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Ludovico Maria Garau
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (L.M.G.); (G.M.)
| | - Annachiara Arnone
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (N.Q.); (A.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Marco Pappalardo
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical, Oncological, and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Domenico Rubello
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, 35100 Rovigo, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.P.); (D.R.)
| | - Gaspare Arnone
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (N.Q.); (A.A.); (G.A.)
| | - Gianpiero Manca
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (L.M.G.); (G.M.)
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Garau LM, Rubello D, Muccioli S, Boni G, Volterrani D, Manca G. The sentinel lymph node biopsy technique in papillary thyroid carcinoma: The issue of false-negative findings. Eur J Surg Oncol 2020; 46:967-975. [PMID: 32098735 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2020.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The management of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is changed after introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) technique for nodal staging. Some debate still surrounds the accuracy of this procedure in terms of wide heterogeneity of sentinel lymph node detection and false-negative findings. AIM to identify the key issues which make it difficult the usefulness of SNB in PTC. METHODS A comprehensive computer literature search of meta-analyses published in PubMed/MEDLINE and Cochrane library database until June 30, 2019 was conducted. We used a search algorithm based on this combination of terms: (i) "thyroid neoplasm" or "thyroid cancer" or "thyroid carcinoma" or "thyroid malignancy" or "meta-analysis" or "systematic review") AND (ii) "sentinel lymph node biopsy". RESULTS Comparing 4 written meta-analyses published in the literature, the diagnostic performance of SNB technique in PTC has been summarized. Relatively high false-negative rates (FNR) were reported for each SNB methods: vital-dye (VD: 12.7%; 7%; 0-38%), 99mTc-nanocolloid planar lymphoscintigraphy with the use of intraoperative hand-held gamma probes (LS: 11.3%; 16%; 0-40%), combined LS with VD (LS+VD: 0%; 0-17%), LS with the additional contribution of preoperative SPECT/CT (7-8%). CONCLUSION Evidence-based data about the diagnostic performance of SNB in PTC are increasing. The nuclear medicine community should reach a consensus on the operational definition of the SLN to better guide the surgeon in identifying the lymph nodes most likely contain metastatic cells. Standardization of SLN identification, removal and analysis are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovico M Garau
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Domenico Rubello
- Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo, Italy.
| | - Simona Muccioli
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Boni
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Duccio Volterrani
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gianpiero Manca
- Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Quartuccio N, Siracusa M, Pappalardo M, Arnone A, Arnone G. Sentinel Node Identification in Melanoma: Current Clinical Impact, New Emerging SPECT Radiotracers and Technological Advancements. An Update of the Last Decade. Curr Radiopharm 2020; 13:32-41. [PMID: 31749441 PMCID: PMC7509753 DOI: 10.2174/1874471012666191015100837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melanoma is the most lethal skin cancer with a mortality rate of 262 cases per 100.000 cases. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node draining the tumor. SLN biopsy is a widely accepted procedure in the clinical setting since it provides important prognostic information, which helps patient management, and avoids the side effects of complete lymph node dissection. The rationale of identifying and removing the SLN relies on the low probability of subsequent metastatic nodes in case of a negative histological exam performed in the SLN. DISCUSSION Recently, new analytical approaches, based on the evaluation of scintigraphic images are also exploring the possibility to predict the metastatic involvement of the SLN. 99mTc-labeled colloids are still the most commonly used radiotracers but new promising radiotracers, such as 99mTc- Tilmanocept, are now on the market. In the last decades, single photon emission computed tomography- computerized tomography (SPECT/CT) has gained wider diffusion in clinical departments and there is large evidence about its superior diagnostic accuracy over planar lymphoscintigraphy (PL) in the detection of SLN in patients with melanoma. Scientists are also investigating new hybrid techniques combining functional and anatomical images for the depiction of SLN but further evidence about their value is needed. CONCLUSION This review examined the predictive and prognostic factors of lymphoscintigraphy for metastatic involvement of SLN, the currently available and emerging radiotracers and the evidence of the additional value of SPECT/CT over PL for the identification of SLN in patients with melanoma. Finally, the review discussed the most recent technical advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natale Quartuccio
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
- Address correspondence to this author at the Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy; Tel: +39091 666 2319; E-mail:
| | - Massimiliano Siracusa
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Pappalardo
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgical, Oncological and Oral Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Annachiara Arnone
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaspare Arnone
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
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Garau LM, Muccioli S, Caponi L, Maccauro M, Manca G. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in oral–oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: standards, new technical procedures, and clinical advances. Clin Transl Imaging 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40336-019-00338-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Angeles CV, Kang R, Shirai K, Wong SL. Meta-analysis of completion lymph node dissection in sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma. Br J Surg 2019; 106:672-681. [PMID: 30912591 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.11149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of completion lymph node dissection (CLND) in patients with sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma continues to be debated. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated survival and recurrence rate in these patients who underwent CLND, compared with observation. METHODS A comprehensive MEDLINE and Embase database search was performed for cohort studies and RCTs published between January 2000 and June 2017 that assessed the outcomes of CLND compared with observation in patients with SLN-positive melanoma. The primary outcome was survival and the secondary outcome was recurrence rate. Studies were assessed for quality using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies. Pooled relative risk or hazard ratio with 95 per cent confidence intervals were calculated for each outcome. The extent of heterogeneity between studies was assessed with the I2 test. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070152). RESULTS Fifteen studies (13 cohort studies with 7868 patients and 2 RCTs with 2228 patients) were identified for qualitative synthesis. Thirteen studies remained for quantitative meta-analysis. Survival was similar in patients who underwent CLND and those who were observed (risk ratio (RR) for death 0·85, 95 per cent c.i. 0·71 to 1·02). The recurrence rate was also similar (RR 0·91, 0·79 to 1·05). CONCLUSION Patients with SLN-positive melanoma do not have a significant benefit in survival or recurrence rate if they undergo CLND rather than observation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C V Angeles
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - R Kang
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - K Shirai
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
| | - S L Wong
- Department of Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA
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Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare reported results on available techniques for sentinel lymph node detection rate (SDR) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS The MEDLINE database was searched via a PubMed interface to identify original articles regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) in thyroid cancer. Studies were stratified according to the sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection technique: vital-dye (VD), Tc-nanocolloid planar lymphoscintigraphy with the use of intraoperative hand-held gamma probes (LS), both Tc-nanocolloid planar lymphoscintigraphy with intraoperative use of hand-held gamma probe and VD (LS + VD), Tc-nanocolloid planar lymphoscintigraphy with the additional contribution of preoperative SPECT/CT, and intraoperative use of hand-held gamma probe (LS-SPECT/CT). Pooled SDR values were presented with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for each SLN detection techniques. A Z-test was used to compare pooled SDR estimates. False-negative rates were summarized for each method. RESULTS Forty-five studies were included. Overall SDRs for the VD, LS, LS + VD, and LS-SPECT/CT techniques were 83% (95% CI, 77%-88%; I = 78%), 96% (95% CI, 90%-98%; I = 68%), 87% (95% CI, 65%-96%; I = 75%), and 93% (95% CI, 86%-97%; I = 0%), respectively. False-negative rates were 0% to 38%, 0% to 40%, 0% to 17%, and 7% to 8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In patients with PTC, Tc-nanocolloids offer a higher SDR than that of the VD technique. The addition of SPECT/CT improved identification of metastatic SLNs outside the central neck compartment.
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Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. Regional lymph node status is one of the strongest predictors of long-term prognosis in primary breast cancer. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has replaced axillary lymph node dissection as the standard surgical procedure for staging clinically tumor-free regional nodes in patients with early-stage breast cancer. SLNB staging considerably reduces surgical morbidity in terms of shoulder dysfunction and lymphedema, without affecting diagnostic accuracy and prognostic information. Clinicians should not recommend axillary lymph node dissection for women with early-stage breast cancer who have tumor-free findings on SLNB because there is no advantage in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival. Starting from the early 1990s, SLNB has increasingly been used in breast cancer management, but its role is still debated under many clinical circumstances. Moreover, there is still a lack of standardization of the basic technical details of the procedure that is likely to be responsible for the variability found in the false-negative rate of the procedure (5.5-16.7%). In this article, we report the aspects of SLNB that are well established, those that are still debated, and the advancements that have taken place over the last 20 years. We have provided an update on the methodology from both a technical and a clinical point of view in the light of the most recent publications.
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Tardelli E, Mazzarri S, Rubello D, Gennaro M, Fantechi L, Duce V, Romanini A, Chondrogiannis S, Volterrani D, Colletti PM, Manca G. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Cutaneous Melanoma: Standard and New Technical Procedures and Clinical Advances. A Systematic Review of the Literature. Clin Nucl Med 2016; 41:e498-e507. [PMID: 27749418 DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0000000000001370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is an important public health problem, and its incidence is increasing worldwide. The disease status of regional lymph nodes is the most important prognostic factor in early-stage melanoma patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was introduced in the early 1990s as a less invasive procedure than complete lymph node dissection to allow histopathologic evaluation of the "sentinel lymph node" (SLN), which is the first node along the lymphatic pathway from a primary tumor. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has minimal complication risks compared with standard complete lymph node dissection. Currently, SLNB is the accepted method for staging patients with clinically node-negative cutaneous melanoma and provides the most powerful prognostic information by evaluating the nodal basin status. The current practice of SLNB consists of the injection of Tc-labeled radiopharmaceutical, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with the possibility of using the SPECT/CT hybrid imaging, and intraoperative SLN localization using a handheld gamma probe with or without the use of blue dye. Recently, the SLN localization and detection have been enhanced with the use of new tracers and new intraoperative devices, which have demonstrated to be particularly useful in melanomas of the head and neck region and in area of complex anatomy. Despite these important advances in the technology and the increasing experience in SLN mapping, major research centers have reported a false-negative rate higher than 15%. This relatively high false-negative rate, greater than those reported in the initial validation studies, points out the importance for the nuclear medicine community to continuously improve their knowledge on the biological behavior of melanoma and to improve the technical aspects that may allow more precise staging. For the SLNB procedure to be accurate, it is of critical importance that all "true" SLNs are identified and removed for examination. The aim of this article is to provide general information about the SLNB procedure in clinical practice highlighting the importance of standardization and accuracy of SLN identification in the light of the most recent technical innovations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Tardelli
- From the *Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa; †Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Maria della Misericordia Rovigo Hospital, Rovigo; ‡Nuclear Medicine Department, Sant'Andrea Hospital, La Spezia; §Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; and ∥Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Indications, Contraindications, and Controversies. Clin Nucl Med 2016; 41:126-33. [PMID: 26447368 DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0000000000000985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Axillary lymph node status, a major prognostic factor in early-stage breast cancer, provides information important for individualized surgical treatment. Because imaging techniques have limited sensitivity to detect metastasis in axillary lymph nodes, the axilla must be explored surgically. The histology of all resected nodes at the time of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has traditionally been regarded as the most accurate method for assessing metastatic spread of disease to the locoregional lymph nodes. However, ALND may result in lymphedema, nerve injury, shoulder dysfunction, and other short-term and long-term complications limiting functionality and reducing quality of life. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a less invasive method of assessing nodal involvement. The concept of SLNB is based on the notion that tumors drain in an orderly manner through the lymphatic system. Therefore, the SLN is the first to be affected by metastasis if the tumor has spread, and a tumor-free SLN makes it highly unlikely for other nodes to be affected. Sentinel lymph node biopsy has become the standard of care for primary treatment of early breast cancer and has replaced ALND to stage clinically node-negative patients, thus reducing ALND-associated morbidity. More than 20 years after its introduction, there are still aspects concerning SLNB and ALND that are currently debated. Moreover, SLNB remains an unstandardized procedure surrounded by many unresolved controversies concerning the technique itself. In this article, we review the main indications, contraindications, and controversies of SLNB in breast cancer in the light of the most recent publications.
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Bozzetto J, Dubreuil J, Rubello D, Giammarile F. Sentinel lymph node in melanoma: present aspects and future trends. Clin Transl Imaging 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40336-015-0122-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Collamati F, Pepe A, Bellini F, Bocci V, Chiodi G, Cremonesi M, De Lucia E, Ferrari ME, Frallicciardi PM, Grana CM, Marafini M, Mattei I, Morganti S, Patera V, Piersanti L, Recchia L, Russomando A, Sarti A, Sciubba A, Senzacqua M, Solfaroli Camillocci E, Voena C, Pinci D, Faccini R. Toward Radioguided Surgery with β− Decays: Uptake of a Somatostatin Analogue, DOTATOC, in Meningioma and High-Grade Glioma. J Nucl Med 2014; 56:3-8. [DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.114.145995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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Manca G, Rubello D, Romanini A, Boni G, Chiacchio S, Tredici M, Mazzarri S, Duce V, Colletti PM, Volterrani D, Mariani G. Sentinel lymph node mapping in melanoma: the issue of false-negative findings. Clin Nucl Med 2014; 39:e346-54. [PMID: 24561692 DOI: 10.1097/rlu.0000000000000366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Management of cutaneous melanoma has changed after introduction in the clinical routine of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for nodal staging. By defining the nodal basin status, SLNB provides a powerful prognostic information. Nevertheless, some debate still surrounds the accuracy of this procedure in terms of false-negative rate. Several large-scale studies have reported a relatively high false-negative rate (5.6%-21%), correctly defined as the proportion of false-negative results with respect to the total number of "actual" positive lymph nodes. In this review, we identified all the technical aspects that the nuclear medicine physician, the surgeon, and the pathologist should take into account to improve accuracy of the procedure and minimize the false-negative rate. In particular, SPECT/CT imaging detects more SLNs than those found by planar lymphoscintigraphy. Furthermore, the nuclear medicine community should reach a consensus on the radioactive counting rate threshold to better guide the surgeon in identifying the lymph nodes with the highest likelihood of housing metastases ("true biologic SLNs"). Analysis of the harvested SLNs by conventional techniques is also a further potential source for error. More accurate SLN analysis (eg, molecular analysis by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and more extensive SLN sampling identify more positive nodes, thus reducing the false-negative rate.The clinical factors identifying patients at higher-risk local recurrence after a negative SLNB include older age at diagnosis, deeper lesions, histological ulceration, and head-neck anatomic location of the primary lesion.The clinical impact of a false-negative SLNB on the prognosis of melanoma patients remains controversial, because the majority of studies have failed to demonstrate overall statistically significant disadvantage in melanoma-specific survival for false-negative SLNB patients compared with true-positive SLNB patients.When new more effective drugs will be available in the adjuvant setting for stage III melanoma patients, the implication of an accurate staging procedure for the sentinel lymph nodes will be crucial for both patients and clinicians. Standardization and accuracy of SLN identification, removal, and analysis are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianpiero Manca
- From the *Regional Center of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pisa Medical School, Pisa; †Department of Nuclear Medicine, Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Rovigo; ‡Department of Oncology, University of Pisa Medical School, Pisa, Italy; and §Department of Radiology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
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Abstract
Appropriate surgical management of regional lymph nodes is critical in patients with cutaneous melanoma. The use of intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has increased significantly in the past decade. SLNB is performed as minimally invasive procedure that provides accurate staging of melanoma patients with no clinically detectable nodal disease. In many melanoma units across the world, it became the standard for detection of occult regional node metastasis in patients with intermediate-thickness primary melanoma. Use of SLNB in patients with thin melanomas is still under evaluation. Although SLNB has been established as staging procedure in melanoma patients, its therapeutic role is still not clear. Large-scale ongoing randomized trials should elucidate whether SLNB with complete lymphadenectomy has a survival benefit in melanoma patients with early lymph node metastases compared to 'watch-and-wait' policy (observation).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Lens
- Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
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