Radio-Guided Occult Lesion Localization With 99m Tc for the Localization of Nonpalpable Melanoma and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Lesions: A Feasibility Study.

Abstract

Localization techniques are needed to facilitate resection of nonpalpable lesions. In this study, the feasibility of radio-guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) with 99m Tc is investigated for the localization of nonpalpable, small, suspicious, or proven melanoma or soft tissue sarcoma lesions at various locations throughout the body. Patients with nonpalpable, suspicious, or proven melanoma or soft tissue sarcoma lesions were selected for this study. Within 24 hours before surgery, a median dose of 33.92 MBq 99m Tc-labeled human albumin particles ( 99m Tc-NA or 99m Tc-MAA) was injected in the lesion under ultrasound guidance. A hand-held gamma probe was used to detect the radioactive signal and guidance during surgery. In this study, 20 patients with a total of 25 lesions were included and analyzed. The median size of the lesions was 1.8 cm (interquartile range [IQR], 1.8-4.0 cm), of which 44% were intramuscular located and 36% were subcutaneous, and 20% consisted of suspicious lymph nodes, mostly in the lower extremity. At median 4 hours (IQR, 3-6 hours) postinjection, 99m Tc ROLL showed a 100% intraoperative identification rate with proper signal identification with the gamma probe in all patients. With a median surgery time of 76 minutes (IQR, 45-157 minutes), all targeted lesions could be resected without 99m Tc-related complications, resulting in 88% microscopically margin-negative resection. No reoperations were needed for the same lesion. The 99m Tc ROLL procedure is feasible for the localization and excision of small, nonpalpable melanoma and soft tissue sarcoma lesions at various locations in the body.