Sentinel node identification using microbubbles and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

A R Sever; P Mills; S E Jones; W Mali; P A Jones

doi:10.1016/j.crad.2011.11.009

Sentinel node identification using microbubbles and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography

Clin Radiol. 2012 Jul;67(7):687-94. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2011.11.009. Epub 2012 Jan 9.

Authors

A R Sever¹, P Mills, S E Jones, W Mali, P A Jones

Affiliation

¹ Department of Radiology, Maidstone Hospital, Maidstone, Kent, UK. ali.sever@nhs.net

PMID: 22226568
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2011.11.009

Abstract

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become the recommended method for surgical staging of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. Grey-scale axillary ultrasonography (US) combined with US-guided biopsy is a widely used preoperative staging procedure but has limited sensitivity. US contrast agent "microbubbles", when injected intradermally, have been shown to have the potential to enter the breast lymphatics, travel rapidly to the axilla, and visualize the putative SLNs. This review illustrates the SLN identification technique using intradermal injection of microbubbles and contrast-enhanced US. The injection method, lymphatic visualization techniques, grey-scale and contrast-enhanced US images of the putative SLNs are reviewed and exemplified.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
Contrast Media*
Female
Humans
Microbubbles*
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / methods*
Ultrasonography / methods

Substances

Contrast Media