PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Antigoni Velidaki
AU  - John Koutsikos
TI  - <strong>The role of Lymphoscintigraphy in Breast Cancer Reccurence</strong>
DP  - 2022 Jun 01
TA  - Journal of Nuclear Medicine
PG  - 2699--2699
VI  - 63
IP  - supplement 2
4099  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/supplement_2/2699.short
4100  - http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/63/supplement_2/2699.full
SO  - J Nucl Med2022 Jun 01; 63
AB  - 2699 Introduction: Learning objectives: 1) To determine whether lymphoscintigraphy and a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with recurrent breast cancer is possible after previous axillary surgery 2) To provide the feasibility and validity of lymphoscintigraphy and the new SLNB. 3) To demonstrate the likelihood of finding aberrant drainage patterns in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrences 4) To present that the median number of axillary lymph nodes removed in the first surgery may be the most important factor for successful identification of SLNs during the second surgical intervention.Methods: AbstractSLNB is currently used for the axillary staging of breast cancer patients with clinically and radiologically negative regional lymph nodes. Lymphoscintigraphy is a non-invasive imaging modality that allows SLN identification. Approximately 5–10 % of breast cancer patients develop a local recurrence in the breast or chest wall. The reported risk of axillary lymph node metastasis among patients with local recurrence after breast surgery and a previous negative SLNB is 26 %. Furthermore, it should be taken into account that due to previous surgery and radiotherapy, lymph drainage pathways might have been altered. These aberrant drainage pathways could be detected with lymphatic mapping, leading to a more thorough staging of the disease.In this exhibit we will review the role of nuclear medicine in axillary staging procedure, in locally recurrent breast cancer, after previous axillary surgery, in order to avoid the complete resection of all lymph nodes. The technical feasibility and validity of the method, the percentages and types of extra-axillary drainage and recurrence rates will be discussed. We will focus also to the probability that altered lymphatic pathway, leads in new SLNs being found in sites other than the ipsilateral axilla.Results: In this exhibit we will review the role of nuclear medicine in axillary staging procedure, in locally recurrent breast cancer, after previous axillary surgery, in order to avoid the complete resection of all lymph nodes. The technical feasibility and validity of the method, the percentages and types of extra-axillary drainage and recurrence rates will be discussed. We will focus also to the probability that altered lymphatic pathway, leads in new SLNs being found in sites other than the ipsilateral axilla.Conclusions: