[Scientigraphic hot lesions secondary to osseous metastases in a patient with multiple myeloma]. / Lesiones gammagráficas hipercaptadoras secundarias a metástasis óseas en paciente con mieloma múltiple.

The myeloma bone deposits may be normal or may also appear as areas of a low uptake on the bone scintigraphy; the presence of multiple hot lesions with negative X-ray and minimal CT findings in patients with multiple myeloma being very uncommon. We reported the case of a 68 year old woman suffering from a multiple myeloma with multiple and hot metastatic lesions in bone scintigraphy. The X-ray was negative and the CT-findings only demonstrated a lytic femoral lesion, the spinal osseous dissemination being confirmed by MRI. We believe that this is an interesting work due to the rarity of the scintigraphic pattern as well as the discussion carried out on the radionuclide imaging methods in the diagnosis of myeloma-related bone lesions.

[Locating the sentinel node in breast cancer by gamma probe and staining agent. Preliminary study]. / Localización del ganglio centinela en el cáncer de mama mediante sonda gammadetectora y colorante. Estudio preliminar.

OBJECTIVE: The sentinel node biopsy appears to offer an alternative to routine axillary lymph node dissection for staging patients with breast cancer. Various techniques have been studied for identifying the sentinel node, using vital blue or radioactive colloid. This study aimed to evaluate our preliminary results with these techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this work carried out in the Valencian Institute of Oncology, 21 women with T1- T2 breast cancer with an average age of 52 years (range: 42-73) underwent the sentinel node biopsy, which was immediately followed by standard axillary dissection. Both blue dye and radioisotope were used to identify the sentinel node. The radioactive axillary of sentinel node was localized by the gamma probe. RESULTS: The sentinel node was successfully identified by lymph node scintigraphy in 100%. It was localized by blue dye in 33% and by combination of blue dye and isotope in 95%. Of the 21 patients in this study in whom sentinel nodes were identified, 7 (35%) were histologically positive; in 6 cases, the sentinel was the only site of the metastases (86%). The histology of the sentinel node accurately predicted axillary node status in 95% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The sentinel node biopsy technique is a promising and feasible procedure in patients with clinically T1-T2 N0M0 breast cancer, providing valuable axillary staging information.

[Lympho-gammagraphy and study of sentinel node in cutaneous melanoma]. / Linfogammagrafía y estudio del ganglio centinela en el melanoma cutáneo.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of selective sentinel lymph node dissection to reduce the number of unnecessary lymphadenectomies in patients with intermediate risk of melanoma and without clinical evidence of regional node and distant metastases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 65 patients with stage I and II melanoma. Only vital blue dye mapping was carried out in nine patients and combined lymphatic mapping with both blue dye and lymphoscintigraphy was used in the remaining 56 patients. RESULTS: The sentinel node was identified in 63 of 65 patients (97%). Only eighth patients (12%) were found to have metastatic melanoma cells in their sentinel node. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm that the intraoperative lymphatic mapping of the sentinel node using both blue dye and radiodetection is an appropriate and simple technique for selecting patients who are more likely to benefit from lymph node dissection.

[Value of the detection of serum thyroglobin and I-131 scintigraphy in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer]. / Valor de la determinación de la tiroglobulina sérica y de la gammagrafía mediante I-131 en el seguimiento del cáncer diferenciado de tiroides.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this work has been to know the sensitivity of serum thyroglobulin and I-131 scintigraphy in the detection of thyroid remnants or metastases, and to evaluate the predictive value of serum thyroglobulin in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer patients. METHODS: We have carried out a retrospective study of 218 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, with detection of serum thyroglobulin levels and I-131 scintigraphy in clinical status of hypothyroidism, after to perform thyroidectomy and between six and nine months later. We have rejected 16 and 14 patients who have had presented high serum levels of thyroglobulin, or an incomplete follow-up. RESULTS: Our results showed a good correlation of both parameters (92%). The sensitivity of TG and I-131 scan was 85% and 90% respectively, and superior to 90% for both procedures in the diagnosis of the osseous and lung metastases. The sensitivity of I-131 scan and TG was 100% and less to 70% in the detection of thyroid remnants and regional lymphatic nodes. The positive and negative value of TG was 99% and 91%, respectively, with a total of 24 false negative results. CONCLUSIONS: Considering this study, we believe that both techniques are complementary, with a lower sensitivity of serum TG in the detection of thyroid remnants and regional lymphatic involvement, and a negative predictive value that does not permit to accomplish the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer patients, considering exclusively the results of this tumoral marker.

[Role of 99mTC-Sestamibi in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Report on 100 cases]. / Papel del 99mTc-Sestamibi en el diagnóstico del cáncer de mama. A propósito de 100 casos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the isotopic mammography with 99mTc-MIBI in the diagnosis of tumoral pathology of the mammary gland. METHODS: One hundred women with clinical/radiological suspicion of malignant pathology in the breast and/or lymph nodes were studied. The isotopic technique consisted of administration 740MBq 99mTc-MIBI, i.v., obtaining AP and prone lateral views. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity and specificity for the scintimammography in tumoral detection was 90% and 86% respectively. The sensitivity was 60% in nonpalpable lesions. The scintimammography had a 40% sensitivity and 98% specificity in lymph node detection. CONCLUSION: The complementary use of scintimammography can improve the sensitivity for the detection of breast carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracy of 99mTc-MIBI depends on the tumor size and histopathological characteristics. The 99mTc-MIBI can potentially determine the presence of recurrent breast cancer and multicentric disease.