Clinical relevance of novel imaging technologies for sentinel lymph node identification and staging

Aidan Cousins; Sarah K Thompson; A Bruce Wedding; Benjamin Thierry

doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.10.011

Clinical relevance of novel imaging technologies for sentinel lymph node identification and staging

Biotechnol Adv. 2014 Mar-Apr;32(2):269-79. doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.10.011. Epub 2013 Nov 1.

Authors

Aidan Cousins¹, Sarah K Thompson², A Bruce Wedding³, Benjamin Thierry⁴

Affiliations

¹ Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
² Discipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
³ School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.
⁴ Ian Wark Research Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia. Electronic address: Benjamin.Thierry@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 24189095
DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2013.10.011

Abstract

The sentinel lymph node (SLN) concept has become a standard of care for patients with breast cancer and melanoma, yet its clinical application to other cancer types has been somewhat limited. This is mainly due to the reduced accuracy of conventional SLN mapping techniques (using blue dye and/or radiocolloids as lymphatic tracers) in cancer types where lymphatic drainage is more complex, and SLNs are within close proximity to other nodes or the tumour site. In recent years, many novel techniques for SLN mapping have been developed including fluorescence, x-ray, and magnetic resonant detection. Whilst each technique has its own advantages/disadvantages, the role of targeted contrast agents (for enhanced retention in the SLN, or for immunostaging) is increasing, and may represent the new standard for mapping the SLN in many solid organ tumours. This review article discusses current limitations of conventional techniques, limiting factors of nanoparticulate based contrast agents, and efforts to circumvent these limitations with modern tracer architecture.

Keywords: Cancer diagnostic; Imaging; MRI; Metastasis; Nanotechnology; Nuclear medicine; PET; Prognostic.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Contrast Media
Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
Humans
Lymph Nodes / pathology*
Mice
Molecular Imaging / methods
Nanomedicine / methods
Neoplasm Metastasis* / diagnosis
Neoplasm Metastasis* / pathology
Radioactive Tracers
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / methods*
Swine

Substances

Contrast Media
Radioactive Tracers