TABLE 5

Patients’ SN Details and Surgical Impact

No. of patients (%) with…Breast cancer (n = 1,182)Melanoma (n = 262)Pelvic cancer (n = 64)
SN found1,080 (91.4)260 (99.2)61 (95.3)
No SN found102 (8.6)2 (0.8)3 (4.7)
Planar detection rate*1,036 (87.6)259 (98.8)56 (87.5)
SPECT/CT detection rate*1,080 (91.4)260 (99.2)61 (95.3)
At least 1 SN found with SPECT/CT but none with planar44 (3.7)1 (0.4)5 (7.8)
Equal SNs with planar and SPECT/CT929 (78.6)199 (75.9)29 (45.3)
More SNs with planar than SPECT/CT21 (1.8)10 (3.8)0
More SNs with SPECT/CT than planar232 (19.6)53 (20.2)All, 35 (54.6)
Prostate, 33 (82.5)
Cervix, 1 (6.6)
Penis, 1 (14.2)
Vulva, 0
No drainage basin mismatch987 (83.5)233 (88.9)31 (48.4)
Drainage basin mismatch195 (16.5)29 (11.1)33 (51.6)
At least 1 SN positive for metastasis366 (31)34 (13)16 (25)
At least 1 SN positive for metastasis planar328 (29.7)34 (13)13 (20.3)
At least 1 SN positive for metastasis SPECT/CT366 (31)33 (12.6)16 (25)
At least 1 SN positive for metastasis planar but not SPECT/CT000
At least 1 SN positive for metastasis SPECT/CT but not planar38 (3.2)2 (0.8)2 (3.1)
Surgical adjustment200 (17)97 (37)42 (65.6)
Without changes in management if only SPECT/CT performed000
  • * At least 1 SN found.

  • Planar SN finding revealed by SPECT/CT to be skin contamination or hold up in lymphatic channels.

  • Patients without changes in management if only planar imaging had been performed.