ABSTRACT

Sentinel lymph node imaging is the method used for regional staging most commonly in breast cancer, skin cancer, as well as head and neck cancer. Recently, it has also been used in gynecologic tumors. Detection of the sentinel lymph node is done by blue dye and/or radiocolloid methods. When sentinel lymph node imaging is performed by radiocolloid methods, various radiopharmaceuticals are used. Herein, by injecting using different techniques into the tumor area and imaging the lymphatic flow, we aimed to show the lymph node which is closest to the lesion and the cancer cell will be first drained to. Patients and nuclear medicine workers during the injection, as well as nurse, surgeon, and the anesthetist during the operation, including the pathologist who is examining the excised lymph node and the staff in close contact with the patient are exposed to the radioactive substance. There are various methods for measuring the dose of radiation being emitted. In this review, our aim was to assess the studies done in this regard and to make a general assessment of the radiation exposure of patients and staff.