Pediatric targeted cervical lymph node excision using ultrasound-guided tracer injection and intraoperative portable gamma camera.

INTRODUCTION

Excision of cervical lymph nodes in children can be technically demanding when nodes are small or deeply located. Combining ultrasound-guided tracer injection with an intraoperative portable gamma camera allows functional guidance during surgery.

CASE REPORT: A pediatric patient with persistent unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy underwent ultrasound-guided injection of a technetium 99mTc-labeled tracer. In the operating room, the portable gamma camera identified focal uptake and guided a targeted nodal excision through a limited cervical approach. The specimen was obtained safely, the procedure was uneventful, and recovery was rapid.

DISCUSSION: The use of ultrasound-guided tracer deposition combined with an intraoperative portable gamma camera provided precise, real-time navigation for pediatric lymph node excision. This approach may help reduce the extent of dissection and operative time while maintaining safety. It represents a feasible adjunct for selected pediatric cervical procedures.