editorials October 01, 2018 October 01, 2018

Radioguided localization of recurrent lymph nodes in differentiated thyroid cancer – Where are we now?

DOI: 10.20945/2359-3997000000079

Controlling loco-regional recurrence is an important goal for patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). A precise localization of suspected lesions is critical for patients with recurrence following a therapeutic neck dissection, as reoperations present increased morbidity. A focused excision may be justified, and marking of non-palpable lesions can help optimize surgical approach and increase tumor detection and removal.

Radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) was initially described for breast tumors, and is based on the intra-operatory guidance by a hand-held gamma-probe that detects radiation emitted from ^99mTc-macroaggregated albumin (^99mTc-MAA), previously injected into the lesion during an ultrasound or mammography. The excellent results of ROLL for non-palpable breast lesions, as evidenced by systematic reviews and meta-analysis (), lead to its use in other clinical situations.

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