The investigation of lesion detection performances of gamma probe and

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate lesion detection performances of gamma probe and gamma camera. METHODS: Four cylindrical lesions with 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 cm diameter were placed in a phantom to simulate lymph nodes. The images of phantom placed within water were taken with gamma camera and counts of lesion were taken from mimicking lymph nodes using a gamma probe. RESULTS: It was determined that lymph node with 0.1 ml volume can be only detected up to 4 cm depth with gamma camera. But, this lesion can be detected up to 7 cm depth when gamma probe is used. CONCLUSION: Gamma probe is more effective compared to gamma camera with respect to their lesion detection capacities. The smallest lymph node that gamma camera could identify clearly had a 0.1 cm diameter at 4 cm depth whereas gamma probe could identify the same size up to 7 cm depth.