Tracking Tumours

Cancer rarely stays in the same place, which makes fighting it extremely tricky. Tumour cells can spread to other parts of the body via the lymph system - a complicated network of vessels and nodes. The patient pictured has head and neck cancer (largest yellow blob near mouth is a tumour). The smaller blobs are sentinel lymph nodes – the first nodes any cells from the tumour are likely to reach. The sentinel nodes have been identified using SPECT imaging, which works by tracking a radioactive substance through the lymph system. The tracer is injected near the tumour, and emits gamma rays, which are detected by a special camera. When the tracer drains into lymph nodes the bright hotspots result. These nodes must now be removed by a surgeon and tested for tumour cells, so doctors know what stage the cancer is at, and where to target treatment.

Written by Emma Stoye

Emma Stoye

Writer

Cambridge-based Emma works for Research SEA and Asia Research News. She has a degree in biological sciences from Oxford University, and has written, edited and produced material for the Naked Scientists radio show.

• Lenka Vermeeren
• Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam
• Courtesy of Renato Valdés Olmos