%0 Journal Article %A Christian Pfob %A Stefan Paepke %A Marc Martignoni %A Martin Horn %A Thomas Wendler %A Klemens Scheidhauer %A Markus Schwaiger %T Comparison of 3D SPECT using handheld gamma camera with planar scintigraphy in example sentinel lymph node mapping %D 2015 %J Journal of Nuclear Medicine %P 1865-1865 %V 56 %N supplement 3 %X 1865 Objectives The sensitivity of the newly introduced freehand single-photon emission computed tomography imaging probe (fhSPECT IP) in comparison to planar scintigraphy in lymphatic mapping of breast and skin cancer patients was evaluated.Methods A handheld fhSPECT IP system using a 16x16 pixel CZT gamma camera and a LEGP collimator (declipseSPECT, SurgicEye, Germany) was compared to 2D planar scintigraphy (E-CAM/Symbia T6, Siemens, Germany). The fhSPECT IP image acquisition was done using a 1 min angular scan protocol. Two AP and 2 lateral projection scintigrams were taken for 2 min each. Planar scintigraphy and fhSPECT IP imaging started in an intervall of 30 min after periareolar injection of 99m-Tc-Nanocoll in breast cancer (BC) and intradermal injection in skin cancer (SC) patients. 47 BC and 3 SC patients undergoing lymphatic mapping were scanned. 45 patients were scanned with fhSPECT IP directly after scintigraphy and 14 in the OR before sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, a mean 19.4 h after injection. The findings were classified into SLN and secondary echelon lymph nodes (LN).Results All 53 SLNs found by planar scintigraphy in the NM were verified with the fhSPECT IP. Also, all 18 SLNs found in the OR matched the findings from planar scintigraphy, resulting in an overall SLN detection-sensitivity of 100%. Of the 27 secondary LNs found by planar scintigraphy, in NM 24 LNs could be confirmed with the fhSPECT IP and 5 additional LNs were found. In the OR, fhSPECT IP showed 2 of 3 LNs described in the planar scintigraphy could be confirmed with fhSPECT IP and 2 additional LNs were found.Conclusions In this first study, the fhSPECT IP shows a system usability, scan duration and excellent sensitivity comparable to planar scintigraphy. Thus, fhSPECT IP is a viable alternative for scintigraphy in SLN mapping. A larger number of cases will be necessary to confirm the high sensitivity. %U