Hybrid radioguided occult lesion localization (hybrid ROLL) of (18)F-FDG-avid lesions using the hybrid tracer indocyanine green-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid.

PURPOSE: To assess if combined fluorescence- and radio-guided occult lesion localization (hybrid ROLL) is feasible in patients scheduled for surgical resection of non-palpable (18)F-FDG-avid lesions on PET/CT. METHODS: Four patients with (18)F-FDG-avid lesions on follow-up PET/CT that were not palpable during physical examination but were suspected to harbor metastasis were enrolled. Guided by ultrasound, the hybrid tracer indocyanine green (ICG)-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid was injected centrally in the target lesion. SPECT/CT imaging was used to confirm tracer deposition. Intraoperatively, lesions were localized using a hand-held gamma ray detection probe, a portable gamma camera, and a fluorescence camera. After excision, the gamma camera was used to check the wound bed for residual activity. RESULTS: A total of six (18)F-FDG-avid lymph nodes were identified and scheduled for hybrid ROLL. Comparison of the PET/CT images with the acquired SPECT/CT after hybrid tracer injection confirmed accurate tracer deposition. No side effects were observed. Combined radio- and fluorescence-guidance enabled localization and excision of the target lesion in all patients. Five of the six excised lesions proved tumor-positive at histopathology. CONCLUSION: The hybrid ROLL approach appears to be feasible and can facilitate the intraoperative localization and excision of non-palpable lesions suspected to harbor tumor metastases. In addition to the initial radioguided detection, the fluorescence component of the hybrid tracer enables high-resolution intraoperative visualization of the target lesion. The procedure needs further evaluation in a larger cohort and wider range of malignancies to substantiate these preliminary findings.

An innovative multimodality approach for sentinel node mapping and biopsy in head and neck malignancies / Técnica mutimodalidad innovadora en el abordaje de la biopsia selectiva del ganglio centinela en tumores de cabeza y cuello

Purpose. Recent innovations such as preoperative SPECT/CT, intraoperative imaging using portable devices and a hybrid tracer were evaluated in a multimodality approach for sentinel node (SN) mapping and biopsy in head and neck malignancies. Material and methods. The evaluation included 25 consecutive patients with head and neck malignancies (16 melanomas and 9 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas). Patients were peritumorally injected with the hybrid tracer ICG-99mTc-nanocolloid. SNs were initially identified with lymphoscintigraphy followed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) 2 hours after tracer administration. During surgery a portable gamma camera in combination with a near-infrared fluorescence camera was used in addition to a handheld gamma ray detection probe to locate the SNs. Results. In all patients the use of conventional lymphoscintigraphy, SPECT/CT and the additional help of the portable gamma camera in one case were able to depict a total of 67 SNs (55 of them visualized on planar images, 11 additional on SPECT/CT and 1 additional with the portable gamma camera). A total of 67 of the preoperatively defined SNs together with 22 additional SNs were removed intraoperatively; 12 out of the 22 additional SNs found during operation were located in the vicinity of the injection site in anatomical areas such as the periauricular or submental regions. The other 10 additional SNs were found by radioguided post-resection control of the excision SN site. Conclusion. In the present series 26% additional SNs were found using the multimodal approach, that incorporates SPECT/CT and intraoperative imaging to the conventional procedure. This approach appears to be useful in malignancies located close to the area of lymphatic drainage such as the periauricular area and the oral cavity (AU)

Objetivo. Se ha evaluado innovaciones recientes como la SPECT/TAC, dispositivos portátiles de imagen intraoperatorios y un trazador híbrido en el contexto de un abordaje multimodalidad para el mapeo y biopsia del ganglio centinela (GC) en tumores de cabeza y cuello. Material y métodos. Se evaluaron 25 pacientes consecutivos con tumores de cabeza y cuello (16 melanomas y 9 carcinomas de células escamosas). Se inyectaron peritumoralmente con el trazador híbrido ICG-99mTc-nanocoloide. Los GC se identificaron inicialmente mediante imágenes planares y a las 2 horas postinyección del trazador se realizó una SPECT/TAC. Intraoperatoriamente se utilizó una gammacámara portátil en combinación con una cámara infrarroja de fluorescencia y una sonda detectora de rayos gamma para localizar los GC. Resultados. En todos los casos las imágenes planares, la SPECT/TAC, y en un caso con la gammacámara portátil, se lograron identificar un total de 67 GC (55 con las imágenes planares, 11 adicionales con la SPECT/TAC y uno con la gammacámara portátil). Además de los 67 previamente definidos, se identificaron y extrajeron 22 GC adicionales intraoperatoriamente de los cuales 12 se encontraban cerca del punto de inyección en zonas como las regiones periauricular y submandibular. Los 10 restantes se encontraron mediante control radioguiado del lecho ganglionar postextracción. Conclusión. En nuestra serie se encontraron un 26% de GC adicionales. Este abordaje multimodalidad parece ser útil en tumores en los que el drenaje linfático es muy próximo al sitio de inyección como en la región periauricular y en cavidad oral (AU)

An innovative multimodality approach for sentinel node mapping and biopsy in head and neck malignancies.

PURPOSE: Recent innovations such as preoperative SPECT/CT, intraoperative imaging using portable devices and a hybrid tracer were evaluated in a multimodality approach for sentinel node (SN) mapping and biopsy in head and neck malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The evaluation included 25 consecutive patients with head and neck malignancies (16 melanomas and 9 oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas). Patients were peritumorally injected with the hybrid tracer ICG-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid. SNs were initially identified with lymphoscintigraphy followed by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT) 2 hours after tracer administration. During surgery a portable gamma camera in combination with a near-infrared fluorescence camera was used in addition to a handheld gamma ray detection probe to locate the SNs. RESULTS: In all patients the use of conventional lymphoscintigraphy, SPECT/CT and the additional help of the portable gamma camera in one case were able to depict a total of 67 SNs (55 of them visualized on planar images, 11 additional on SPECT/CT and 1 additional with the portable gamma camera). A total of 67 of the preoperatively defined SNs together with 22 additional SNs were removed intraoperatively; 12 out of the 22 additional SNs found during operation were located in the vicinity of the injection site in anatomical areas such as the periauricular or submental regions. The other 10 additional SNs were found by radioguided post-resection control of the excision SN site. CONCLUSION: In the present series 26% additional SNs were found using the multimodal approach, that incorporates SPECT/CT and intraoperative imaging to the conventional procedure. This approach appears to be useful in malignancies located close to the area of lymphatic drainage such as the periauricular area and the oral cavity.

Multimodal surgical guidance towards the sentinel node in vulvar cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Conventional sentinel node (SN) mapping is performed by injecting a radiocolloid followed by lymphoscintigraphy (and SPECT/CT imaging). An extra intraoperative injection with blue dye can then allow for optical identification of the SN. In order to improve the current clinical standard, the hybrid tracer indocyanine green (ICG)-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid was introduced, a tracer that is both radioactive and fluorescent. This feasibility study aimed to evaluate the value of a multimodal-based SN biopsy in vulvar cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with vulvar cancer (29 groins) scheduled for SN biopsy were peritumorally injected with ICG-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid followed by lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT imaging to identify the SNs. In thirteen patients, shortly before the start of the operation, blue dye was intradermally injected around the lesion. SNs were harvested using a combination of radiotracing, fluorescence imaging, and optical blue dye detection. A portable gamma camera was used before and after SN excision to confirm excision of the preoperatively defined SNs. RESULTS: Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and SPECT/CT imaging visualized drainage to 39 SNs in 28 groins. During the operation, 98% (ex vivo 100%) of the SNs were radioactive. With fluorescence imaging 96% of the SNs (ex vivo 100%) could be visualized. Only 65% of the SNs had stained blue at the time of excision. CONCLUSION: ICG-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid can be used for preoperative SN identification and enables multimodal (radioactive and fluorescent) surgical guidance in patients with vulvar cancer. The addition of fluorescence-based optical guidance offers more effective SN visualization compared to blue dye.

Added value of the hybrid tracer indocyanine green-99mTc-nanocolloid for sentinel node biopsy in a series of patients with different lymphatic drainage patterns.

INTRODUCTION: Indocyanine green (ICG)-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid is a novel hybrid fluorescent radioactive tracer for sentinel node (SN) biopsy. This study has aimed to evaluate the added value of this novel versatile tracer in a series of patients with different malignancies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty patients (with penile carcinoma, oral cavity tumors, melanoma) were consecutively included between March-May 2012. Planar lymphoscintigraphy was performed 15 min and 2h after injection of ICG-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid followed by SPECT/CT. Blue dye (1 ml) was injected in 14 patients in surgery room. Intraoperatively, SNs were localized using a gamma probe and visualized by optical SN-detection using blue dye and fluorescence imaging. Finally, a portable gamma camera was used to confirm complete SN removal. RESULTS: At least one SN was identified by SPECT/CT in all patients. All SNs (total 68, 100%) were excised using a combination of radio- and fluorescence guidance: 89.7% were intraoperatively localized with the gamma probe. The remaining SNs, located near the injection site, were localized using fluorescence imaging. During the surgery, 97% of the SNs were fluorescent while only 39.2% were stained blue. Ex vivo, all SNs were both radioactive and fluorescent. The SN was positive in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: Synchronous radio- and fluorescence guided SN biopsy is feasible using ICG-(99m)Tc-nanocolloid. This hybrid approach combines the beneficial properties of both modalities. Adding fluorescence imaging improves optical SN detection compared to blue dye. It has been shown to be especially useful in the localization of SNs near the injection site.