Lymph flow guided irradiation of regional lymph nodes in patients with cervical cancer: Preliminary analysis of scintigraphic data

To evaluate patterns of lymph flow from primary lesions in patients with cervical cancer and to determine how useful for radiotherapy planning this information can be. SPECT–CT visualization of sentinel (SLN) lymph nodes (LNs) was performed in 36 primary patients with IB-IIB cervical cancer. The acquisition started 120–240min after 4 peritumoral injections of 99mTc-radiocolloids (150–300MBq in 0.4–1ml). We determined localization of LN with uptake of radiocolloids, type of lymph flow (mono-, bi-lateral) and lymph flow patterns (supraureteral paracervical, infraureteral paracervical and directly to para-aortic LNs). SLNs were visualized in 31 of 36 women. Bilateral lymph-flow was detected in 22 (71%), monolateral – in the other 9 (29%) cases. The distribution of SLNs was as follows: external iliac – 64.5%, internal iliac – 54.8%, obturator – 32.2%, common iliac – 35.5% and pre-sacral 3.2%. Para-aortic LNs were visualized in 5 (16.1%) patients. The supraureteral paracervical pattern of lymph flow was identified in 22, infraureteral paracervical – in 4 and their combination – in the other 5 women. Visualization of an individual pattern of lymph flow from primary cervical cancer can be considered as a promising tool for optimization of the volume of irradiated regional LNs.