PERCUTANEOUS REMOVAL OF SENTINEL LYMPH NODE USING CONTRAST IMAGING FOR IDENTIFICATION

摘要

A system and method for percutaneous removal of a sentinel lymph node using a radiological contrast agent for identification and guidance of the procedure are disclosed. The method generally includes injecting a radiological contrast agent detectable by an imaging modality into an area of interest, identifying a sentinel lymph node in at least one area of draining lymph nodes that receive lymphatic fluid from the area of interest by imaging the area(s) of draining lymph nodes utilizing the imaging modality, introducing a percutaneous excision device into the area(s) of the draining lymph nodes, and excising the identified sentinel lymph node in the area(s) of draining lymph nodes using the percutaneous excision device, where the introducing and/or the excising is performed under guidance by imaging at least portions of the identified sentinel lymph node and the percutaneous excision device. A second agent may be injected with the radiological contrast agent for increased sensitivity of identification.