Peaceful Utilization of Nuclear Energy in Iran: Detection of Sentinel Node in Breast Cancer Patients using Technetium Element

Abstract

Iran has had a peaceful nuclear program for more than 50 years, beginning with a research reactor purchased from the United States in 1959. There were a few suspicions of a nuclear weapons program, but these strongly abated in the decades after Iranian revolution in 1979. One of the most useful applications of nuclear energy in Iran is radionuclide imaging in sentinel lymph detection of breast cancer using Technetium (Tc) element. Sentinel lymph node is the first regional lymph node that drains the lymph from the primary tumor. It is potentially the first node to receive the seeding of lymph-borne metastatic cells. For sentinel node detection, one of the methods most often used in Iran is radionuclide imaging. However, guidelines strongly recommend imaging of the sentinel node combined with identification with a gamma probe before any operative procedure, rather than the use of external probe detection alone. In this regard, guidelines do not provide defined protocols for image acquisition and there is much controversy about the usefulness of dynamic imaging. This study aimed to discuss procedural guidelines for Lymphoscintigraphy for detection of sentinel node using 99mTc-Phytate in Isfahan, Iran.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n1s1p643