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Parasternal lymphoscintigraphy: implications for the treatment planning of internal mammary lymph nodes in breast cancer. [/sup 99m/Tc]

Journal Article · · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)
Parasternal lymphoscintigraphy is an easily performed technique for visualizing and accurately determining the three dimensional location of internal mammary lymph nodes. Sixty-eight women with primary or locally recurrent breast cancer underwent parasternal lymphoscintigraphy before treatment planning. The mean depth and lateral position of the internal mammary nodes were 1.8 +- 0.9 cm and 2.4 +- 0.9 cm respectively. Thirteen percent of the nodes would have been undertreated by the standard tangential technique used at our institution. Six of 15 patients whose treatment plans were examined retrospectively had at least 1 lymph node undertreated by the standard tangential technique. Thus, although standard tangential portals provide adequate coverage for the internal mammary lymph nodes in a majority of patients, parasternal lymphoscintigraphy can ensure complete coverage of this lymph node group.
Research Organization:
Joint Center for Radiation Therapy, Boston, MA
OSTI ID:
5583685
Journal Information:
Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 5:10; ISSN IOBPD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English