This is an automatically translated article.
The article was written by Doctor Dinh Van Thuyet - Head of Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.SPECT/CT scan of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer is a very useful method with high accuracy to identify sentinel lymph nodes. This technique is performed routinely at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
1. Introduction to breast cancer (breast cancer)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Vietnamese women, the incidence rate is increasing rapidly year by year.
Surgical removal of breast cancer with metastatic lymph nodes is necessary in the treatment of early breast cancer.
Hình ảnh minh họa ung thư vú bên phải (hình A) di căn hạch (hình B)
2. What is sentinel lymph node?
The sentinel lymph node is the first node to which cancer cells are able to spread from the primary tumor. Cancer cells often appear in the sentinel lymph nodes before spreading to other nodes, so detecting and conducting a local biopsy to see if this node has metastasized is essential.If the sentinel lymph nodes have not metastasized, there is a very high chance that the other nodes have not, at this time, the patient only needs to remove the cancer tissue without having to remove the entire axillary lymph node like the traditional treatment technique before. this. In cases where these nodes already have cancer cells, the surgeon will perform extensive lymph node dissection in the hope of removing all the cancerous tissue from the body.
Breast cancer patients after axillary lymph node dissection surgery may suffer severe sequelae such as swollen arms due to lymphedema. Thanks to the technique of detection and biopsy of sentinel lymph nodes, the patient may not have to undergo axillary lymph node dissection, so complications can be avoided.
3. How are sentinel lymph nodes detected?
Previously, to identify sentinel lymph nodes, the patient would be injected with blue dye into the breast tumor, this dye will move into the lymph node system and during surgery, the doctor will find the lymph nodes have turned green (sentinel nodes) to remove them and check for cancer cells.
Vinmec Times City uses a SPECT/CT machine system to take pictures, mark sentinel lymph nodes, as well as use a specialized device (gamma probe) to assist surgeons in accurately detecting sentinel lymph nodes during surgery. This is the most optimal method currently in the diagnosis and detection of sentinel lymph nodes.
Hình ảnh minh họa hạch gác trong ung thư vú phát hiện bằng SPECT/CT
4. What should be prepared when going to the examination and scanning to determine sentinel lymph nodes?
Bring all old records (results of medical examination, ultrasound, computed tomography...). Notify the status of pregnancy, lactation (if any) to medical staff before performing the service.
5. Why should scan to detect sentinel lymph nodes at Vinmec Times City?
Vinmec Times City uses the SPECT/CT Discovery NM/CT 670 Pro system with the most modern 16-sequence CT of the world's leading medical equipment company GE Heathcare (USA), for high quality images, helping to diagnose early disease to investigate. The high quality service of Vinmec Times City hospital will satisfy customers. Vinmec Times City's medical staff are experienced, well-trained at home and abroad, so they can advise and provide maximum support to customers during the shooting process, even for foreign customers.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
