Abstract
The findings of RI-lymphography were evaluated in twenty-three patients with breast cancer to examine lymphatic flow of the chest in these patients. Fifteen patients underwent this examination post-operatively, 2 pre-operatively, and the remaining 6 were cases of advanced cancer or recurrent cancer. Radioactive 99mTc-Rhenium colloid was injected via epigastric point, 2cm below the xyphoid process of the sternum. Soon after the injection, dynamic study was started and continued for 60 minutes. Delayed scan was examined 90-120 minutes after the injection. Lymphatic flow of the chest wall with the post-operative breast cancer patients revealed many variations. Patients who had treated with extended radical mastectomy had poor flow of the operated site of parasternal lymphatic chain. There were several variations with parasternal lymphatic chain, and it was difficult to suspect the patterns of parasternal lymphatic canal. Lymphatic passages of the chest wall towards the axillary region was very complicated. If it recurred on the operated site, it was difficult to estimate the metastatic pathway through the lymphatic canal. Supraclavicular nodes were rarely visualized with RI-lymphography. It is useful to perform the RI-lymphography in the patients who undergo irradiation of both parasternal and supraclavicular region, after the operation for the breast cancer.
