Dynamic MR lymphangiography and carbon dye for sentinel lymph node detection: a solution for sentinel lymph node biopsy in mucosal head and neck cancer.

Background: The practical application of sentinel lymph node biopsy in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is restricted by the time sensitivity of blue dye and lack of spatial resolution and nonspecific node enhancement with radiocolloid. This study evaluates the use of magnetic resonance (MR) lymphangiography and carbon dye labeling to circumvent these limitations.

Methods: Gadomer/carbon dye mixture was injected into the tongue and stifle of adult swine (n = 4). MR lymphatic mapping was followed by intraoperative mapping with isosulfan blue dye. Sentinel lymph node biopsy and completion node dissection were performed 60 minutes after injection in four nodal basins and at 7 days after injection in eight.

Results: The technique was successful in all 12 nodal basins. The sentinel lymph nodes were stained black at the time of the immediate and delayed dissections.

Conclusions: MR lymphangiography provides temporal and anatomic localization of the sentinel lymph node with a single investigation. Carbon dye is a sensitive and persistent visual marker of MRI-targeted sentinel lymph nodes.