SPECT/CT in cervical cancer: value and advantages of preoperative sentinel lymph node imaging

Objective: Here we assess the use of single photon emission computed tomography with CT (SPECT/CT) as alternative to lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) for preoperative identification of SLN in cervical cancer. Methods: Cervical carcinoma patients were scheduled for surgery and additional SLN labelling by injection of 10 MBq Technetium(TC)-99 m-nanocolloid and patent blue. Thirty minutes after injection, LSG and SPECT/CT were carried out. We evaluated number of detected SLNs (intraoperatively, LSG, SPECT/CT) and the histology of SLN and non-SLN. We determined the impact of these results on the therapeutic approach. Result…