Lymphoscintigraphy

Abstract

The technique of lymphoscintigraphy images the lymphatic transit and lymph node accumulation of radiolabeled colloidal nanoparticles and is the first-line test to assess lymphatic function. It is used to diagnose lymphedema, a disease caused by either anomalous development of the lymphatic system or injury to lymphatic vasculature. Lymphoscintigraphy also can be used as a method of sentinel lymph node localization to aid in the staging of some cancers. In children and young adults, sentinel lymph node localization is used for a variety of tumors, including melanoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas, such as synovial cell sarcoma.