Planar Tc99m – sestamibi scintimammography should be considered cautiously in the axillary evaluation of breast cancer protocols: Results of an international multicenter trial

BACKGROUND: Lymph node status is the most important prognostic indicator in breast cancer in recently diagnosed primary lesion. As a part of an interregional protocol using scintimammography with Tc99m compounds, the value of planar Tc99m sestamibi scanning for axillary lymph node evaluation is presented. Since there is a wide range of reported values, a standardized protocol of planar imaging was performed. METHODS: One hundred and forty-nine female patients were included prospectively from different regions. Their mean age was 55.1 ± 11.9 years. Histological report was obtained from 2.987 excised lymph nodes from 150 axillas. An early planar chest image was obtained at 10 min in all patients and a delayed one in 95 patients, all images performed with 740–925 MBq dose of Tc99m sestamibi. Blind lecture of all axillary regions was interpreted by 2 independent observers considering any well defined focal area of increased uptake as an involved axilla. Diagnostic values, 95% confidence intervals [CI] and also likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated. RESULTS: Node histology demonstrated tumor involvement in 546 out of 2987 lymph nodes. Sestamibi was positive in 30 axillas (25 true-positive) and negative in 120 (only 55 true-negative). The sensitivity corresponded to 27.8% [CI = 18.9–38.2] and specificity to 91.7% [81.6–97.2]. The positive and negative LR were 3.33 and 0.79, respectively. There was no difference between early and delayed images. Sensitivity was higher in patients with palpable lesions. CONCLUSION: This work confirmed that non tomographic Tc99m sestamibi scintimammography had a very low detection rate for axillary lymph node involvement and it should not be applied for clinical assessment of breast cancer

Early arm swelling after breast surgery: changes on both sides

Lymphedema is a common complication of treatment for breast cancer. However, little information is available describing changes in upper limb volumes in the early stages following surgery.Retrospective audit.Women who underwent unilateral mastectomy or axillary node removal for breast cancer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.Circumferential measurements taken at 10 cm intervals from the ulnar styloid on each arm were converted to segmental volumes using the frustum approach.Pre-surgery baseline measures were taken by a physiotherapist at Preadmission Clinic at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Follow-up measures were taken 6 weeks after surgery by Domiciliary Allied Health Acute Care and Rehabilitation Service physiotherapists in patients' homes.Limb segment volumes increased in the proximal upper limb segments at follow-up. The proportion of patients with a 10% or greater increase in volume in one or more segments of their upper limb were similar for ipsilateral (35%) and contralateral (32%) sides (to side of surgery), respectively. No significant interaction between time and arm (ipsilateral versus contralateral) was identified.These findings demonstrate that limb segment volume changes affect a greater proportion of patients during the first 6 weeks following surgery than previously recorded. They also indicate that flow of lymph from the side of surgery to the contralateral side may disperse lymph between sides during this early post-operative period. This has implications for how swelling is measured during this period and strategies to prevent onset of lymphedema