Retrosternal lymph node metastases in breast cancer: lymphoscintigraphy and magnetic resonance tomography
Linden, A.; Reusch, K.; Smolarz, K.; Jungehülsing, M.; Theissen, P.; Bolte, A.; Schicha, H.
Nuklearmedizin. Nuclear Medicine 30(6): 279-282
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-5566 PMID: 1780241 Document Number: 386752
In 21 patients with breast cancer (pT1-4, N0, M0) internal mammary lymphoscintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to evaluate retrosternal lymph node metastases. In 6 patients normal findings of lymphoscintigraphy were confirmed by MRI. In the 15 patients with focal defects seen by lymphoscintigraphy no lymph nodes were found by MRI in 5 in the corresponding area, 5 showed normal-sized lymph nodes (less than 1 cm) and 5 enlarged lymph nodes indicating metastatic infiltration. In addition to internal mammary lymphoscintigraphy MRI may offer the possibility to improve TNM staging in patients with breast cancer.