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SPECT/CT for sentinel lymph node mapping in head and neck melanoma
Author(s) -
Vermeeren Lenka,
Valdés Olmos Renato A.,
Klop W. Martin C.,
van der Ploeg Iris M. C.,
Nieweg Omgo E.,
Balm Alfons J. M.,
van den Brekel Michiel W. M.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.21392
Subject(s) - medicine , sentinel node , nuclear medicine , single photon emission computed tomography , head and neck , radiology , sentinel lymph node , melanoma , lymph node , cancer , surgery , pathology , breast cancer , cancer research
Background. The additional value of single photon emission computed tomography with CT (SPECT/CT) for detection and localization of sentinel nodes in patients with a melanoma of the head and neck was determined.Methods. Thirty‐eight patients received conventional lymphoscintigraphy followed by hybrid SPECT/CT. The number of sentinel nodes visualized and anatomic information provided were analyzed. Changes in surgical approach due to additional information from the SPECT/CT were evaluated in 20 patients.Results. SPECT/CT visualized a mean of 2.6 sentinel nodes per patient (range, 1–6). SPECT/CT depicted an additional sentinel node in 16% of the patients and clearly showed the anatomic location of the hot nodes in all patients. The surgical approach was adjusted on the basis of SPECT/CT images in 11 patients (55%).Conclusion. SPECT/CT visualizes more sentinel nodes than conventional images and shows their anatomic location. SPECT/CT is recommended in patients with a melanoma in the head or neck. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011