Lümfoscintigraalia

Lümfoscintigraalia, also known as lymphoscintigraphy, is a diagnostic imaging procedure used to examine the lymphatic system. It involves the injection of a small amount of radioactive tracer, typically technetium-99m sulfur colloid, near a tumor or in the limbs. This tracer travels through the lymphatic vessels and is detected by a gamma camera.

The primary purpose of lymphoscintigraphy is to identify sentinel lymph nodes, which are the first lymph nodes that drain lymph fluid from a tumor site. Detecting these nodes is crucial in staging cancer, particularly melanoma and breast cancer, as it helps determine if the cancer has spread. If the sentinel nodes are free of cancer cells, it is less likely that the cancer has metastasized to other lymph nodes or distant organs.

The procedure is minimally invasive and usually performed on an outpatient basis. After the tracer injection, images are taken at intervals to map the lymphatic drainage pathway. In some cases, a blue dye may also be injected to help surgeons visually locate the sentinel nodes during surgery. If the tracer is found in the sentinel lymph nodes, these nodes are surgically removed for pathological examination. Lymphoscintigraalia is a valuable tool in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes by providing precise information about lymphatic involvement.