Evaluation of radiation hazard in sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer using radioactive technetium Tc^99m

The sentinel lymph node identification method is used more and more frequently. This technique has become increasingly accepted as a minimally alternative to routine auxillary dissection. The combination method of identification with the use of radioactive Tc99m-labeled sulphur colloid and vital blue-dye is most frequent. The most used radioactive dose is 8-60 MBq, which is injected a day before surgery.
Safeguards should be established by each institution for the use of radioactive materials. Appropriate radiation safeguards must be employed for the operative staff, surgeons and pathologists.
The radiation exposure of surgeons, operating room personnel and the staff of pathology from radiocolloid sentinel node technique is extremely low but it is very important to confirm this fact in own setting. The highest exposure rate concerns the surgeon's hands within the breast injection site and the pathologist's hands from lumpectomy specimen and this site of radiation exposure was assessed using ring dosimeters.
28 persons of medical staff (surgeons, nurses and pathologists) were enrolled in this study. The radioactivity rate was assessed using a ring dosimeter.
This study confirmed that radiation exposure to the sentinel lymph node identification method in the operating room and Dept. of Pathology is minimal and is about the same or less as the exposure to mammograph.