Technetium-99m antimony sulphide colloid lymphoscintigraphy of the prostate by direct transrectal injection

Laterality of prostatic lymphatic drainage was successfully assessed in nine patients with prostatic carcinoma after direct unilateral transrectal injections of⁹⁹Tc^m-antimony sulphide colloid by Franzen needle. Pelvic lymphatic drainage was equally divided between ipsilateral, contralateral and bilateral patterns. The frequent observation of radiocolloid migration to contralateral lymph node groups in patients with prostate carcinoma, including those with primary disease localized clinically to a single lobe of the prostate, indicates the potential for contralateral pelvic lymph node metastases in this population. This finding may be important in determining the appropriate surgical staging and treatment of patients with prostate carcinoma. The clinical applicability of lymphoscintigraphy in the evaluation of metastatic spread and in lymph node biopsy planning requires further study.