Aussagewert der parasternalen Lymphoszintigraphie mit Mikrokolloiden bei der Stadienbestimmung und Nachsorge des Mammakarzinoms

Over a period of twelve years we have performed 793 parasternal lymphoscintigrams with microcolloids in 272 patients with unilateral carcinoma of the breast. In 173 patients we were able to follow their course with an average of four examinations and an average period of observation of 48 months. The parasternal lymph nodes could be identified in 59.6% (on the side of the tumour in 55.1%, on the contralateral side in 64.2%). Expressed as an index with maximal value of 1, the (non-)demonstration constant was 0.79 (side of the tumour 0.78, opposite side 0.80). Comparison of the total scans with the initial findings showed general loss of scintigraphic uptake which, however, is not reflected during individual ICR localisation. Patients with the highest prevalence of parasternal metastases showed atypical uptake. There was no change in uptake in those patients who subsequently developed distant metastases.