Experimental canine model for sentinel lymph node biopsy in the vulva using technetium and patent blue dye

purpose: this paper aims to study and define the experimental model of sentinel lymph node biopsy of the vulva in bitches. methods: 0.2 ml of 99mtc phytate was injected intradermally, using a fine gauge insulin needle in the anterior commissure of the vulva. thirty minutes after 99mtc injection, the inguinal mapping was performed using a gamma probe. after this, 0.5 ml of blue dye (bleu patenté v guerbet 2.5%) was injected in the same place. after 15 minutes, a 3 cm long inguinal incision was made at point maximum uptake followed by careful dissection, guided by visualization of a bluish afferent lymphatic system that points to the sentinel lymph node (sln). results: it was observed that 88% of sln were identified. it wasn′t found a significant difference among the presence or not of sentinel lymph node in the sides, which is an indication of a good consistency. it was observed a high (88%) and significant (χ2=12.89 and p=0.0003) intercession between both methods (blue dye and radiation). conclusion: the experimental model adopted is feasible, becoming advantageous in applying the association of patent blue and 99mtc.