SPECT/CT Lymphoscintigraphy Accurately Localizes Clipped and Sentinel Nodes After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Node-Positive Breast Cancer

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy on targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in node-positive breast cancer (BC) patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).MethodsSixty-two female BC patients with biopsy-confirmed axillary nodal metastases underwent NAC, followed by breast surgery with TAD. A metallic clip was placed in the sampled LN before NAC. On the day of surgery, a periareolar intradermal Tc-99m-nanocolloid injection was administered, followed by SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy. The clipped nodes were localized on CT images, assessed for Tc-99m uptake before surgery, and confirmed during the procedure.ResultsT1-4, N1-2 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy. The clipped node was the SLN in 54 (88.5%) patients. In 3 patients (4.9%), a clip was found in a nonsentinel lymph node. In 4 patients, the clips were not visible on SPECT/CT images, and lymph nodes were not found during the procedure. SPECT/CT correctly localized the clipped lymph node in all patients. The overall false-negative rate for TAD was 3.33%. The mean follow-up duration was 29 months, and there were no axillary recurrences.ConclusionsSPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy can accurately localize clipped nodes and SLNs after NAC in patients with node-positive BC.