[en] A study was undertaken to compare two new methods of capillary blood flow measurement, namely fluorescein flowmetry (FF) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). The blood flow was measured in a pelvis pouch during its construction and in the completed ileoanal anastomosis in 12 patients. There was a high correlation between the two methods when the blood flow was measured in the pelvic pouch. The correlation coefficient between the two methods for the difference between the blood flow in the pelvic pouch at the site of the planned anastomosis when the pouch resided in the abdomen and that in the completed ileoanal anastomosis was r=0.99, the reduction amounted to 25% as measured by FF and 27% as measured by LDF. All ileoanal anastomoses healed perfectly, the lowest FF and LDF values being 0.004 density units/s and 0.3 V, respectively. The results indicate that either method can be considered for measuring capillary blood flow. 8 refs., 2 figs

[en] Purpose: The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the role of planar scintimammography with ^99mTc-MIBI in detecting axillary lymph node metastases in women with primary breast carcinoma. Material and Methods: Fifty-eight patients underwent scintimammography prior to axillary lymph node dissection. Ten minutes after injection of 700 MBq ^99mTc-MIBI, two prone lateral projections were obtained, followed by a supine anterior projection. Sixty-one axillae (3 bilateral) were operated upon and the status of the lymph nodes verified with histopathology. The scintigraphic result was compared to the histopathologic findings. Results: A sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 80% of planar scintimammography in detecting axillary lymph node metastases were achieved. Conclusion: Scintimammography with ^99mTc-MIBI is not recommended as a routine method for the detection of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with breast carcinoma. (orig.)

[en] Purpose: To investigate lymphatic drainage as measured by lymphoscintigraphy in the arms of patients undergoing either sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Material and Methods: From January 2001 to December 2002, 30 patients with unilateral invasive breast carcinoma underwent breast-conserving surgery with SNB and 30 patients with ALND. All patients received radiotherapy to the breast. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed, and skin circulation, skin temperature, and arm volume were measured 2-3 years after radiotherapy. Results: None of the 30 patients who underwent SNB showed any clinical manifestation of lymphedema. Of the 30 patients undergoing ALND, six (20%) had clinical lymphedema, with an arm volume that was >10% larger on the operated than on the non-operated side (P<0.01). Scintigraphically, visual analysis revealed lymphatic dysfunction in three patients, manifested as forearm dermal back flow. Two of these patients also had an increased arm volume. Quantitative analysis showed no differences between the groups, apart from a smaller amount of isotope in the axilla in the ALND group. There was no difference in skin circulation or skin temperature. Conclusion: Our study shows that lymph drainage in the operated arm compared with the non-operated arm was less affected by SNB than by ALND, and that morbidity associated with SNB was lower than with ALND. However, the results do not confirm our hypothesis that lymphoscintigraphy can reveal differences in lymph circulation that are not evident clinically in the form of manifest lymphedema. The most sensitive clinical method of assessing lymph drainage seems to be measurement of arm volume

[en] Purpose: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of X-ray mammography and of MR imaging in 238 consecutively operated breasts, and to correlate the findings to histopathological diagnosis. Material and Methods: Over 15 months, 220 patients scheduled for breast surgery were examined consecutively, before surgery, by means of both mammography and MR imaging. Of the 220 patients, 18 underwent bilateral breast surgery. The entire breast was examined by means of T1-weighted transversal images using a 3D fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence. One pre- and 2 post-contrast scans were performed. Each breast was examined by means of mammography and 3 views were applied as routine. All palpable and mammographically suspect lesions were examined on additional images as microfocus magnification or spot compression. The two methods were evaluated independently of each other. Results: In total, 145 malignant and 93 benign lesions were found at histopathological examination. The sensitivity of mammography was 89% and MR imaging 92%. The specificity was 72% in both methods. When the results of the 2 methods were combined, a sensitivity of 99% and a specificity of 55% was achieved. (orig.)

[en] The aim of our prospective study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of MR mammography (MRM) in detecting malignant disease. In 231 consecutive patients scheduled for surgery because of mammographic or palpable lesions suspected of malignancy, the breasts were examined with T1-weighted transversal images using a 3-D fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequence. On pre- and 2 post-contrast images were obtained. Histological examination of the surgical specimens showed carcinoma in 155 breasts, of which 138 were invasive and 17 in situ. MRM detected 144 of the 155 malignancies and was false-negative in 11 cases. Eight of these MRM-missed tumours were invasive and 3 were in situ cancers. Benign lesions were found at microscopy in 95 breasts, of which MRM correctly diagnosed 69. The cellular composition of the 26 false-positive lesions (myxomatous stromal change, high vascularity, and epithelial or apocrine hyperplasia) might explain the false positivity. The sentitivity and specificity of MRM were 93% and 73%, respectively. MRM should be interpreted with caution, and supplemented with e.g. mammography and ultrasonography. (orig.)

[en] The purpose of the study was to determine the value of contrast-enhanced MR imaging in the assessment of local recurrence in breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy and breast reconstruction with an implant. Eighty-three patients have been evaluated by semidynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging. The T1-weighted FLASH 3-D sequence was repeated twice postcontrast for evaluation of the entire breast bilaterally. The findings were compared to physical examination, mammography and histopathology. Recurrence verified by histopathology occurred in 14 of 83 patients (17%). Contrast-enhanced MR imaging was superior to palpation and mammography in revealing recurrences, especially when these were located close to the chest wall. MR was also more sensitive in detecting multiple foci of cancers. Our study revealed that MR imaging was influenced by size, type and composition of the tumor, as illustrated by the false-negative results. Therefore, the use of all 3 investigation methods is necessary for detecting recurrence at an early stage during the postoperative follow-up. (orig.)