SPECT-CT - Superior Sentinel Node Localisation:​

SPECT-CT has been show to offer significant advantages to patients undergoing sentinel node biopsy, including:​

  • More accurate anatomical localization, potentially reducing the time taken to find nodes during surgery
  • Identification of false positives (due to contamination or spillover from the injection site)
  • Increased sensitivity - visualisation of nodes not seen on standard ‘planar’ imaging
  • Informing the surgeon of the need for an alternative surgical approach when necessary.

 

Dynamic mapping

Our scans are also performed using a dynamic imaging technique which provides excellent detail regarding the path of drainage for a particular node. This helps to more accurately identify which node is the true first ‘sentinel’ node amongst a group of adjacent nodes.

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Stress-free referral

We have worked very closely with our referrers to develop an efficient, stress-free referral system. We recognise the upset and stress felt by patients when they are given a diagnosis of melanoma or breast cancer. When faced with this diagnosis in the clinic setting, patients often experience ‘information overload’ at the thought of organising a separate scan for a sentinel node biopsy.
We have therefore created a simple two-step process which assists patients through their subsequent journey.

 

Step 1

When the decision is made to perform a sentinel biopsy, staff at the surgical clinic are able to request an appointment for the patient over the phone, either before the patients appointment or while they are attending their appointment with the surgeon.
Please ring 09 623 5889

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Step 2

Once an appointment time has been confirmed, staff at the surgical clinic can enter the patients details and appointment time on a printable electronic (.pdf) form to hand to the patient. Alternatively, we can provide printed copies if required.

 

The form provides the following information:

  • The purpose of a sentinel node scan
  • An explanation of the procedure
  • Details of how to prepare for the scan
  • Travel directions to Accuron Radiology
  • An explanation of the procedure following the scan

 

Once an appointment time has been confirmed, staff at the surgical clinic can enter the patients details and appointment time on a printable electronic (.pdf) form to hand to the patient. Alternatively, we can provide printed copies if required.

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Fast delivery of results

Immediately after the scan, a report is issued and patients are provided with a printed copy with accompanying images, including dynamic sequences.

Online digital access to the report and scans is also available on the clinicians computer via our Inteleviewer PACS.