[Scintigraphy in breast tumors].

The authors illustrate the use of nuclear medicine in tumours of the breast. The techniques can be used at various stages: 1) in the study of remote metastases (usually blood-borne)--bone and parenchymal scintigraphy; and 2) in the study of tumour spread to the lymph glands (axillary and mammary). The techniques of lymphoscintigraphy of the mammary lymphatic plexus and of axillary lymphoscintigraphy are illustrated, and scintigram readout parameters are defined. The Authors also discuss the possibility of using this examination for adequate preoperative tumour staging, as well as the possibility of obtaining even more accurate lymphoscintigraphic images, endowed with even more selective specificity, by means of the use of monoclonal antibodies labelled with radioactive substances.