Anatomic Asymmetry in Sentinel Lymph Node Detection in Endometrial Cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the concomitant use of indocyanine green (ICG) with technetium-99m-filtered sulfur colloid (Tc99m-FSC) improves bilateral sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection rate in endometrial cancer and whether anatomic concordance of pelvic lymph nodes exists and can be used to predict SLN location in cases of unilateral mapping failure. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center in Holon, Israel. PATIENTS: Patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer, who underwent SLN mapping with Tc99m-FSC, ICG, or both, at our center between 2014 and 2019. INTERVENTIONS: A total of 111 patients were included in the study. SLN mapping using Tc99m-FSC was performed in 101 (91.9%) patients, and ICG injection was given to 64 (57.6%) patients of whom 55 (49.5%) received both. We compared SLN detection rates (unilateral and bilateral) and anatomic symmetry for each method alone and for a combination of the 2. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The overall detection rate for unilateral SLNs was 96.4%; 96.9% with ICG, 93.1% with gamma-probe, and 98.2% by combining both methods. The total bilateral detection rate was 72.1%, with ICG performing better as a single tracer than Tc99m-FSC (75% vs 63.4%, respectively). In 55 women in whom both tracers were used, the bilateral detection rate was significantly higher compared with Tc99m-FSC alone. Symmetric pelvic anatomic concordance of SLN was found in only 35 of 80 patients with bilateral SLN detection (43.8%). CONCLUSION: The combination of preoperative radioisotope injection and intraoperative ICG administration may yield the best bilateral SLN detection rate. In cases of unilateral mapping failure, one cannot rely on the anatomic location of the ipsilateral SLN detected to harvest the complementary node because the symmetric concordance is poor.

PET/CT in Disease Detection and Follow-up of Subcutaneous Involvement in Marginal Zone Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in the staging and assessment of treatment response in marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) lymphomas remains controversial. We investigated radiologic characteristics of subcutaneous MZL as imaged on PET/CT scans. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From the records of a single medical center, for the years 2008 and 2017, we identified subcutaneous lesions in PET/CT scans of patients with histopathologically confirmed MZL in sites other than subcutaneous tissue. RESULTS: Of 571 scans of 178 patients, subcutaneous lesions were found in 20 (11%). Lesions were located in soft tissue structures, mainly along the lateral aspects of the buttocks, thighs and lower and upper back areas, the flank, and the shoulders. Median lengths of the long and short axes of the lesions were 2.0 (range, 1.1-6.0) cm and 0.8 (range, 0.3-2.0) cm, respectively. Median standardized maximum uptake value was 2.3 (range, 0.9-7.6). In 12 patients (60%), MZL was diagnosed at an early stage; 15 (75%) had lymph node involvement and 10 (50%) extranodal involvement. One had spleen and 2 had cutaneous involvement; none had gastric findings. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study support the usefulness of PET/CT in the detection of subcutaneous MZL as well as in staging and treatment decisions.

Yttrium-90-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) combined with high-dose BEAM chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for chemo-refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and outcome following standard-dose ibritumomab tiuxetan followed by BEAM high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with chemo-refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 23 patients, median age 55 years (range, 35-66) with chemo-refractory lymphoma, either primary refractory (n = 11) or in refractory relapse (n = 12). Rituximab 250 mg/m(2) followed by ibritumomab tiuxetan 0.4 mCi/kg were given on day -14 and high-dose BEAM chemotherapy started on day -6. RESULTS: All patients engrafted. Twenty-one patients are evaluable for response; 11 achieved CR, 9 achieved PR, 5 of whom converted to CR with additional radiation therapy (overall CR rate 76%). With a median follow-up of 17 months (range, 4-27) 16 patients are alive and 12 are progression-free. The estimated 2-year overall and progression-free survival are 67% (95% CI, 46-87%) and 52% (95% CI, 31-72%), respectively. The day-100 rate of treatment-related mortality was 9% (95% CI, 2-33%) and the 2-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 31% (95% CI, 17-57%). Extensive prior therapy (>3 lines), high LDH and IPI score at ASCT, bulky disease, and progression during last chemotherapy were risk factors for reduced survival. CONCLUSION: Ibritumomab tiuxetan-BEAM and ASCT is relatively safe and may improve outcome in patients with refractory lymphoma. Although excess nonrelapse mortality can not be ruled out, relapse rate was relatively low, resulting in improved outcome. Standard-risk patients with chemo-sensitive disease may also benefit from ibritumomab tiuxetan-BEAM and ASCT. This hypothesis merits further study in larger-scale prospective randomized studies.

The role of indirect radionuclide cystography during the acute phase of pyelonephritis in young women.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience using dynamic 99mTc-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid renal scintigraphy combined with indirect radionuclide cystography (IRC) in the acute phase of pyelonephritis, as a possible alternative to the conventional imaging, as investigating acute pyelonephritis usually includes imaging the upper urinary tract during the acute phase, to exclude obstruction, and delayed voiding cysto-urethrography (VCUG) when underlying vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) is suspected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 1999, 47 young women (median age 22 years, range 18-37) were hospitalized for acute pyelonephritis. The combined study was used during the acute phase of the disease, usually within 24 h of hospitalization. The principle of IRC is based on the reappearance of radioactivity in the ureters or kidneys after previously detecting renal clearance of an intravenously injected radioisotope. The increase in radioactivity over the ureters or kidneys indicates VUR. The subsequent follow-up included VCUG, after recovery and at least 6 weeks after discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 47 patients had early IRC studies; obstruction of the urinary tract during the acute phase of the disease was excluded in all. In 13 (28%) of the patients early IRC studies showed VUR involving 21 upper tract units. The renal parenchymal scan was impaired in 17 (36%) patients, and six of these 17 also had detectable concomitant reflux on IRC. Overall, 24 IRC studies (51%) were considered positive, showing VUR, renal parenchymal pathology or both; 23 (49%) were normal. Follow-up VCUG was used in 32 patients (68%); only three (9%) detected VUR. All of the patients with VUR on follow-up VCUG had also had an abnormal early IRC study, showing either reflux (two) or findings suggestive of pathological renal parenchyma (one). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the well-established role of renal scintigraphy in excluding obstruction of the collecting system, early IRC is characterized by high sensitivity and accurate negative predictive value for detecting VUR. It can therefore be used to screen adults presenting with acute pyelonephritis for the presence of VUR. Patients with an abnormal IRC require follow-up VCUG after complete recovery, while those with a negative study may be managed expectantly, with no further radiological evaluation. This proposed strategy may avoid up to half of the delayed VCUG studies, preclude the related inconvenience, and substantially reduce the costs.