RE: Sentinel lymph nodes....

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From:Sheila Poellein <sheila_poellein@deaconess.com>
To:"'Tom T. McNemar'" <TMcNemar@lmhealth.org>, "Histonet (E-mail)" <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
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We started doing sentinel nodes about two years ago, our radiology
department monitored everything involved in the process including surgery
for several procedures.  During this evaluation period we did store the
specimens in lead containers for 60 hours before histologic processing.  Our
radiology department's conclusion was that there was negligible exposure, so
we do not take any special precautions.  Sheila


-----Original Message-----
From: Tom T. McNemar [mailto:TMcNemar@lmhealth.org]
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2000 8:13 AM
To: Histonet (E-mail)
Subject: Sentinel lymph nodes....



We have just begun to get sentinel nodes.  I was wondering how others are
handling the nodes from a safety standpoint.  The information I have says
that the nodes have consistently been demonstrated to be less than 1 mr/hr
and so monitoring for radioactivity is not required.

If a mastectomy is performed, the guidelines recommend delaying processing
for 2.5 days and storage of the specimen in a lead shield.  

I would be very interested in what others are doing and would appreciate any
input.  Thanks.

Tom Mc Nemar
Pathology Supervisor
Licking Memorial Hospital
Newark, Ohio




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