34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

In patients with cancer, accurate sentinel lymph node identification is crucial for appropriate staging and treatment, which allows more effective and less invasive surgical procedures. This study aimed to determine the applicability of radiographic indirect lymphography using iomeprol and compare the effectiveness of this method to colorimetric lymphography using Patent Blue V in detecting sentinel lymph nodes in bitches with mammary neoplasia.

Methods:

This study included 20 bitches with mammary neoplasia who underwent preoperative radiographic indirect lymphography with iomeprol and intraoperative colorimetric lymphography with Patent Blue V. Sentinel lymph node identification was performed using the two methods, and the findings were compared. Histopathological analysis of samples collected during mastectomy was performed.

Results:

Lymph node mapping showed positive results for 72.72% of the nodules. Agreement between the two methods was 22.72%, with each method identifying the sentinel lymph node in 65% of the nodules. Indirect lymphography with iomeprol allowed identification of deep lymph nodes not detected by the colorimetric method. Metastasis was confirmed in 31.81% of the lymph nodes analysed histologically.

Conclusions:

Radiographic indirect lymphography with iomeprol is a promising approach for identifying deep sentinel lymph nodes in bitches with mammary neoplasia, and colour lymphography is indispensable for visualising the lymph node during surgery. The combination of these methods appears to be advantageous, potentially improving surgical planning and assertive lymphadenectomy in veterinary clinical practice.