Investigation of sentinel lymph nodes using SPECT/CT and perioperative gamma assay combined with immunohistochemistry in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing lung resection.
Pinar Çağan, Ali Kimiaei, Seyedehtina Safaei, Fikri Okan Falay, Cemal Asim Kutlu
{"title":"Investigation of sentinel lymph nodes using SPECT/CT and perioperative gamma assay combined with immunohistochemistry in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing lung resection.","authors":"Pinar Çağan, Ali Kimiaei, Seyedehtina Safaei, Fikri Okan Falay, Cemal Asim Kutlu","doi":"10.1007/s12055-025-01924-9","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Accurate mediastinal staging is crucial for treatment planning and prognostication in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is a promising technique for improving the precision of mediastinal staging. In this study, we aimed to identify the lymph nodes that the tumor will invade based on the lobe in which it exists by determining the lobar drainage pathways. Additionally, we share our experience with the SLN procedure for NSCLC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included twenty NSCLC patients with N0, N1, or N2 stages, scheduled for surgery and showing no lymph node or distant metastasis on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Radiopharmaceutical injection around the tumor preoperatively was followed by SPECT/CT visualization. Lymph nodes were counted using a gamma probe post-mediastinal dissection. Evaluation included histopathological analysis of SLNs identified by SPECT/CT and gamma probe, using hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After postoperative pathological examinations, metastases were found in other mediastinal, hilar, or intrapulmonary lymph nodes without involving the SLN in six patients (30%). Metastasis to the SLN was detected in only two patients (10%). Immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin revealed SLN metastasis in three patients (15%). The skip metastasis was detected in five patients (25%). Additionally, three patients (15%) experienced pneumothorax post transthoracic radiopharmaceutical injection, which did not require intervention, and one patient (5%) had hemoptysis.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>We propose that enhancing SLN detection in NSCLC can aid surgeons in selectively sampling lymph nodes that are either invaded or are at risk of invasion without sacrificing the accuracy of mediastinal staging.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>Not applicable. This manuscript does not report on or involve the use of any clinical trials.</p><p><strong>Graphical abstract: </strong></p><p><strong>Supplementary information: </strong>The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-025-01924-9.</p>","PeriodicalId":13285,"journal":{"name":"Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","volume":"41 7","pages":"874-881"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170977/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-025-01924-9","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/3/22 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Accurate mediastinal staging is crucial for treatment planning and prognostication in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) is a promising technique for improving the precision of mediastinal staging. In this study, we aimed to identify the lymph nodes that the tumor will invade based on the lobe in which it exists by determining the lobar drainage pathways. Additionally, we share our experience with the SLN procedure for NSCLC.
Methods: The study included twenty NSCLC patients with N0, N1, or N2 stages, scheduled for surgery and showing no lymph node or distant metastasis on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Radiopharmaceutical injection around the tumor preoperatively was followed by SPECT/CT visualization. Lymph nodes were counted using a gamma probe post-mediastinal dissection. Evaluation included histopathological analysis of SLNs identified by SPECT/CT and gamma probe, using hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining.
Results: After postoperative pathological examinations, metastases were found in other mediastinal, hilar, or intrapulmonary lymph nodes without involving the SLN in six patients (30%). Metastasis to the SLN was detected in only two patients (10%). Immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin revealed SLN metastasis in three patients (15%). The skip metastasis was detected in five patients (25%). Additionally, three patients (15%) experienced pneumothorax post transthoracic radiopharmaceutical injection, which did not require intervention, and one patient (5%) had hemoptysis.
Conclusion: We propose that enhancing SLN detection in NSCLC can aid surgeons in selectively sampling lymph nodes that are either invaded or are at risk of invasion without sacrificing the accuracy of mediastinal staging.
Clinical trial registration: Not applicable. This manuscript does not report on or involve the use of any clinical trials.
Graphical abstract:
Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12055-025-01924-9.
期刊介绍：
The primary aim of the Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery is education. The journal aims to dissipate current clinical practices and developments in the area of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. This includes information on cardiovascular epidemiology, aetiopathogenesis, clinical manifestation etc. The journal accepts manuscripts from cardiovascular anaesthesia, cardiothoracic and vascular nursing and technology development and new/innovative products.The journal is the official publication of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons which has a membership of over 1000 at present.DescriptionThe journal is the official organ of the Indian Association of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgeons. It was started in 1982 by Dr. Solomon Victor and ws being published twice a year up to 1996. From 2000 the editorial office moved to Delhi. From 2001 the journal was extended to quarterly and subsequently four issues annually have been printed out at time and regularly without fail. The journal receives manuscripts from members and non-members and cardiovascular surgeons. The manuscripts are peer reviewed by at least two or sometimes three or four reviewers who are on the panel. The manuscript process is now completely online. Funding the journal comes partially from the organization and from revenue generated by subscription and advertisement.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
