News Release

eZ-Scope shows promise for improving accuracy of sentinel node surgery

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Surgeons use gamma probes in conjunction with radioactive tracers in various operations. It is a particularly useful tool during sentinel node biopsy, when the surgeon removes a sample of the sentinel node – the lymph node under the arm where breast cancer first spreads.

A recent study by Marrimuthoo Pillay and colleagues from the Departments of Clinical Physics and Nuclear Medicine at Amphia Hospital in Breda, Netherlands, evaluated the performance of the Anzai gamma imaging probe – a hand-held gamma camera also known as eZ-Scope – during sentinel node biopsy. The results of the study were presented at the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s 50th Annual Meeting.

Breast cancer patients were injected with the radiopharmaceutical tracer Tc-99m in order to identify the sentinel nodes for removal. The study tested eZ-Scope alongside the most widely used gamma probe for sensitivity, handling, and spatial resolution. The study found that eZ-Scope allowed doctors to identify the radioactive nodes more accurately in less time. However, Pillay and colleagues recommended that eZ-Scope be used in conjunction with a normal gamma probe until doctors gain more experience with this powerful new technology.

###


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.