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S Vidal-Sicart

Publications and source records attributed to S Vidal-Sicart.

35 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Mid-arm sentinel lymph nodes showing surprising drainage from a malignant melanoma in the forearm.

A 51-year-old man with a malignant melanoma in his left forearm was studied to detect the sentinel lymph node and to assess the possibility of micrometastases in regional lymph nodes. Lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated two sentinel lymph nodes in the midarm. Two other nodes in the same location as well as in the left axilla were also observed. The exact location of the sentinel lymph nodes was identified with a gamma-ray detector. At the time of surgery, blue dye was injected around the primary lesion and the two sentinel lymph nodes on the inner side of the left arm were resected. Both lymph nodes were pigmented black. The histopathologic study demonstrated metastases from malignant melanoma in both nodes. This case reflects the main role of lymphoscintigraphy in identifying draining lymph nodes in unusual locations as observed in this patient.

Axilla↗

Predictive value of 99Tcm-sestamibi gated SPET for long-term myocardial perfusion and functional recovery after an acute myocardial infarction.

We assessed the predictive value of 99Tcm-sestamibi gated single photon emission tomography (SPET) for changes in perfusion and functional outcome after an acute myocardial infarction and compared the findings on functional recovery with echocardiography using low-dose dobutamine. Gated 99Tcm-sestamibi SPET and radionuclide angiocardiography were performed in 17 patients 4-10 days after an acute myocardial infarction. Six months later, both isotopic studies and rest-dobutamine echocardiography were performed to assess outcome. Perfusion improved in six of seven severely hypoperfused segments (positive predictive value = 85.7%) that showed wall thickening but not in any of 28 segments (negative predictive value = 100%) without wall thickening. The mean ejection fraction improved from 47.7 to 52.3% (P = 0.018). Furthermore, there was a greater improvement in ejection fraction in the group of patients in whom wall thickening predicted a recovery in perfusion (9.0 vs 3.7%, P = 0.01). A comparison of the assessment of functional recovery between gated SPET and dobutamine echocardiography showed good agreement (81.4%). We conclude that the presence of wall thickening in severely hypoperfused segments on 99Tcm-sestamibi gated SPET is predictive of changes in perfusion and functional recovery after acute myocardial infarction, thus identifying the presence of viable myocardium. In contrast, segments showing hypoperfusion and dysfunction after an acute myocardial infarction probably contain scar tissue only.

Adult↗

[Evaluation of left ventricular contraction using heart tomography with technetium 99m tetrofosmin in synchrony with ECG. Correlation with bidimensional echocardiography].

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography is a standard method of evaluating segmental and global left ventricular function in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to determine if segmental and global ventricular function determined from Gated SPECT myocardial imaging adequately coincides with echocardiographic data. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 23 patients with ischemic heart disease referred for clinical 99mTc tetrofosmin Gated SPECT imaging. The results were compared with those obtained using a standard rest echocardiographic assessment. Both studies were performed within a 24-48 hour period. Segmental results in both studies were analyzed by semiquantitative visual scoring using a two or three-point grading system and a summed score was obtained to determine global left ventricular function. RESULTS: There was a good segmental score agreement between both techniques for wall motion (77.5%; kappa = 0.49) and less for wall thickening (85%; kappa = 0.36). There were non significant statistical differences in the global left ventricular function with both techniques by wall motion (echocardiography 15.3 +/- 5.4 vs tetrofosmin 14.9 +/- 4.4; p = NS) and wall thickening (echocardiography 12.7 +/- 2.3 vs tetrofosmin 12.4 +/- 1.8; p = NS) scores. Correlation for global wall motion (r = 0.81; p < 0.0001) and wall thickening (r = 0.72; p = 0.0001) scores between the two modalities was good. CONCLUSIONS: Gated SPECT 99mTc tetrofosmin myocardial imaging is a valid method to assess segmental and global left ventricular function and agrees well with echocardiography.

Aged↗

[Detection of sentinel lymph nodes by lymphatic gammagraphy and intraoperative gamma-ray probe in patients with malignant melanoma. Initial results].

In the last years there has been an arising concern in the sentinel lymph node identification, the first lymph node to receive direct draining from the primary tumour, specially in malignant melanoma (MM). We studied 20 patients with MM: 10 with palpable regional lymph nodes and 10 without palpable LN by performing a lymphoscintigraphy using 99mTc-nanocolloid and a gamma-ray detecting probe during the surgery to locate the sentinel lymph node. In patients with palpable LN, 13 sentinel lymph nodes were identified. Ten of them were MM involved. Furthermore, 82 LN were harvested from involved lymph basins and 30 of them were positive for MM. In patients without palpable LN, 14 sentinel lymph nodes were identified (3 positives and 11 negatives for MM) and other 76 LN were resected (all of them negative). There were not < > in any patient. These preliminary results support the utility of the technique for the diagnosis and lymphadenectomy selection in patients without palpable LN but which could be involved by micrometastases.

Adult↗

Strontium-89 for palliation of pain from bone metastases in patients with prostate and breast cancer.

We have used strontium-89 chloride (89Sr) for the palliative treatment of metastatic bone pain. Seventy-six patients (50 males with prostate carcinoma and 26 females with breast cancer) were treated with 148 MBq of 89Sr. Sixteen patients were retreated, receiving two or three doses; the total number of injected doses was consequently 95. The Karnofsky performance status was assessed and pain and analgesia were scored on scales of 9 and 5 points, respectively. The efficacy of 89Sr was evaluated at 3 months of treatment. Three levels of response were considered: good - when there was an increase in the Karnofsky status and a decrease in the pain score (equal to or higher than 4) or analgesic score (equal to or higher than 1); partial - when there was an increase in the Karnofsky status and a decrease in the pain score (2 or 3 points) without significant changes in the analgesic score; no response - if no variation or deterioration in these parameters was observed. In prostate cancer patients, the response was good in 64% of cases and partial in 25%, and there was no response in the remaining 11%. In breast cancer patients, the response was good in 62% of cases and partial in 31%, and there was no response in the remaining 8%. Duration of the response ranged from 3 to 12 months (mean 6 months). In the patients who were retreated the effectiveness was as good as after the first dose of 89Sr. A decrease in the initial leucocyte and platelet counts was observed after the 1st month of treatment, with a gradual partial to complete recovery within 6 months. It is concluded that 89Sr is an effective agent in palliative therapy for metastatic bone pain in patients with prostate or breast carcinoma. If required, retreatment can be administered safely and with the same efficacy as is achieved by the first dose.

Aged↗

Preoperative parathyroid gland localization with technetium-99m sestamibi in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy has become a valuable tool in locating parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in secondary hyperparathyroidism. Twenty patients were injected intravenously with 740 MBq of 99mTc-sestamibi and images were obtained at 15 min and 2 h post injection. All patients underwent parathyroid ultrasonography (US) as well as bilateral surgical neck exploration and 64 parathyroid glands were removed. US revealed at least one enlarged gland in 15/20 patients (75%), while 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy showed focal areas of increased uptake in at least one gland in 17/20 patients (85%). When imaging results for all glands were evaluated according to surgical results, sensitivity was 54% for parathyroid scintigraphy and 41% for US, and specificity was 89% for both imaging techniques. There was a discrepancy between the two imaging modalities in 28 glands (35%). The mean surgical weight of US-positive glands (1492+/-1436 mg) was significantly higher than that of US-negative glands (775+/-703 mg) (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in weight between sestamibi-positive and sestamibi-negative glands. When only sestamibi-positive glands were considered, a positive correlation between uptake and weight was found (r=0.4, P<0.05). In conclusion, parathyroid US and 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy are complementary imaging techniques in the preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The limited sensitivity of the techniques means that patients will still require bilateral neck exploration; therefore routine preoperative parathyroid scanning in renal patients is not justified.

Female↗

67Ga scintigraphy for the evaluation of recurrences and residual masses in patients with lymphoma.

67Ga scintigraphy has proven to be of value in the evaluation of patients with lymphoma, especially in their management after treatment. In this study, computed tomography (CT) and 67Ga scans were compared in 53 patients with lymphoma who had previously been treated. Twenty-eight were patients in continuous clinical remission in whom recurrence was suspected. The remaining 25 patients were studied between 1 and 3 months post-treatment to assess a residual mass. The sensitivity for the detection of lymphoma recurrence was 88% for 67Ga, with two false-negative results, and 59% for CT, with seven false-negative results. In the diagnosis of recurrence, the specificity of 67Ga was 100% and that of CT 72%, with three false-positive results. Therapeutic response was assessed in 25 patients and the ability to predict response to treatment resulted in a specificity of 86% for 67Ga and 81% for CT. Treatment failed in four patients, as detected by 67Ga scan, whereas CT did not detect any of these. In the remaining 21 patients who showed good response to treatment, there were three false-positive results for 67Ga and four for CT. 67Ga scintigraphy can detect relapse more accurately and much earlier than CT, as well as diagnose complete remission after treatment. Therefore, 67Ga scintigraphy should be used routinely in monitoring response to treatment in lymphoma.

Abdomen↗

Scintigraphic evaluation of the severity of inflammation of the joints with 99TCm-HIG in rheumatoid arthritis.

A prospective study was carried out to determine the usefulness of 99TCm-human immunoglobulin G (HIG) scintigraphy in the assessment of the severity of joint inflammation. Twenty-four patients with rheumatoid arthritis were studied. The presence or absence of pain and/or swelling was evaluated in 34 joints and a clinical index taking into account the surface area of each joint was calculated. We measured the following biological markers of inflammation activity: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, haemoglobin, platelet count, serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and soluble receptors of IL-2. Scintigraphic was performed 4 h after the injection of 740 MBq 99Tcm-HIG. The scans were evaluated by visual and quantitative analysis and the scores in each joint were weighted for joint size. Pathological uptake of the radiopharmaceutical was noted in 46% (24/52) of joints evaluated as painful, 89% (146/164) of swollen joints and 94% (78/83) of both painful and swollen joints. Both the visual and the quantitative scintigraphic indices correlated significantly with the clinical index, the number of painful joints, the number of swollen joints and several biological markers of inflammation. A very high correlation was also found between the visual and the quantitative scintigraphic indices (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001). In conclusion, 99Tcm-HIG scintigraphy is an objective test to detect synovitis and to assess the severity of inflammation. A careful visual analysis of scans is good enough for routine evaluations and computer quantitative analysis should be used when more accurate intra-individual variation is required.

Adult↗

[Comparative study of the different radiotracer administration route to locate the sentinel node in breast cancer].

AIM: To assess the results of Sentinel Lymph Node (SLN) detection in breast cancer patients depending on the radiotracer injection route, especially evaluating which route that makes it possible to identify the highest percentage of SLNs and its detection in the inner mammary chain. METHODS: We prospectively studied 120 breast cancer patients. Three groups of 40 patients each were established depending on the radiotracer injection route. 1) Subdermal or subareolar route: 18 T1 and 22 T2, mean tumor diameter size of 1.76 cm. 2) Peritumoral route: 16 T1 and 24 T2, mean tumor diameter size of 1.86 cm. 3) Intratumoral route: 20 T1 and 20 T2, mean tumor diameter size of 1.61 cm. The day before surgery, a lymphoscintigraphic study was performed in all cases and intraoperative SLN resection was carried out with the aid of a hand-held gamma probe. RESULTS: The SLN was identified in 38/40 cases (95%) of group 1, in 35/40 cases (88%) of group 2 and in 38/40 cases (95%) of group 3. No SLNs in the mammary chain were observed in patients who underwent subdermal/subareolar injection of the radiotracer. On the other hand, SLNs were visualized in this location in 4/35 patients with peritumoral injection (11%) and in 8/38 patients with intratumoral injection (21%). CONCLUSION: The superficial (subdermal, subareolar) injection technique is more suitable when an unnecessary lymphadenectomy has to be prevented in cases without axillary metastases. The deeper injection technique (peritumoral, intratumoral) should be use when, moreover, we seek accurate staging or plan non-systematic mammary chain irradiation.

Adult↗

[Usefulness of the sentinel node in the treatment and staging of initial cervix cancer].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative sentinel node (SN) detection in patients with initial cervix cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative SN detection was performed in 17 patients with initial cervix cancer who we going to have a radical laparoscopic hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Conization was performed in 4/17. The day before surgery, an injection of 111 MBq 99mtechnetium nanocolloid around the primary tumour and a subsequent lymphoscintigraphy were carried out. Blue dye was injected at the same location intraoperatively. A laparoscopic gamma probe was used to identify SNs. RESULTS: SNs were successfully localized using a combination of radiocolloid and blue dye in 16/17 patients (detection rate 94 %). The detection rate only using blue dye technique decreases to 71 % (12/17) and it reaches an 82 % (14/17) if we avoid the blue dye injection. In 3 cases, there was no migration in lymphoscintigraphy and in one of the three SN could not be detected. Thirty-three SNs were identified (1.9 nodes/patient). The most frequent location was left external iliac nodal group (13 nodes: 39 %). SNs were identified in regions that are not included in usual lymphadenectomy: right parametrium (2 sentinel nodes, one of them in the retrouterine region), and interiliac (2 SNs). In all four patients with previous conization SNs were identified (detection rate 100 %). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of SN detection combining lymphoscintigraphy with gamma probe and blue dye is 82 %. The use of blue dye allows increasing this rate to 94 % in those cases which migration was not seen or when the SN is placed near the injection site. The SN technique offers the possibility to find SNs in regions not included in usual lymphadenectomy.

Adult↗