ResumoO sistema linfático é um componente do corpo humano intimamente relacionado ao sistema venoso. Entretanto, o conhecimento científico a seu respeito é limitado. A etiologia e os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento do linfedema no pós-operatório de câncer de mama são multifatoriais e ainda não foram completamente esclarecidos. O objetivo desta revisão da literatura foi descrever o padrão linfocintilográfico e avaliar as compensações linfáticas do membro superior no pós-operatório de câncer de mama com dissecção axilar. Palavras-chave:Sistema linfático, drenagem linfática, dissecção axilar, linfocintilografia, câncer de mama. AbstractThe lymphatic system is a component of the human body that is closely related to the venous system. However, scientific knowledge of this system is limited. The etiology and risk factors for the development of postoperative lymphedema in patients with breast cancer seem to be multifactorial and have not been fully understood yet. The objective of this review of the literature was to describe lymphoscintigraphic pattern and to evaluate upper limb lymphatic compensation following breast cancer surgery with axillary dissection.Keywords: Lymphatic system, lymphatic drainage, axillary dissection, lymphoscintigraphy, breast cancer. IntroduçãoO câncer de mama apresenta grandes e significativos índices de mortalidade entre as mulheres, sendo o segundo tipo de câncer mais freqüente no mundo e o mais comum entre a população feminina. No Brasil, para o ano de 2008, são esperados 49.400 novos casos, com uma taxa bruta estimada de 51 casos para cada 100.000 mulheres 1 .De acordo com a American Cancer Society, existem hoje nos Estados Unidos entre 1 e 2 milhões de sobreviventes ao câncer de mama, e cerca de 15 a 20% delas convivem diariamente com algum desconforto ou incapacidade em seus membros superiores. Estima-se que entre 120.000 e 600.000 pacientes sofram de alguma complicação pós-operatória 2 .O linfedema de membro superior ipsilateral à mama operada, complicação com tempo de instalação variá-vel entre 2 e 92 meses, com média de 14 meses 3,4 , apresenta incidência entre 24 e 49% após mastectomia, entre 4 e 28% após tumorectomia com dissecção axilar 5 e 34% após cirurgia combinada à radioterapia 6 , promovendo um substancial prejuízo funcional e psicológico para a paciente.O linfedema é a complicação pós-operatória mais comum, e seus efeitos adversos afetam diretamente a qualidade de vida das pacientes. Embora sua incidência esteja diminuindo devido ao diagnóstico precoce e ao

Objective To evaluate postoperative lymphatic compensation in the upper limb after mastectomy with axillary dissection. Subjects and methods Twenty-three patients who underwent lymphoscintigraphy before and 60 days after surgery were enrolled from September 2006 to June 2007, in Campinas, Brazil. Protocol examination consisted in static imaging of each upper limb in semi-flexion and thoracic imaging after 10 min and 1 and 2 hr after subcutaneous injection of 1 mCi (37 MBq) of 99mTc dextran into the dorsum of the hand. A comparative analysis was made of hepatic uptake of the radiopharmaceutical, velocity of axillary lymph node visualization (I, visible at 10 min; II, at 1 hr; III, at 2 hr; IV, not visible) and degree (intensity) of uptake (a, marked; b, moderate; c, mild; d, absent) before and 60 days after surgery. Results In the preoperative period, 3 (13%) patients were considered to have an optimal pattern (Ia) and 2 (9%) showed total involvement (IVd). Compared to velocity in the postoperative period, 9 (39%) patients showed no difference, 5 (22%) improved, 9 (39%) became worse, and one was considerably worse. Regarding the degree, 10 (43%) patients showed no difference, 9 (39%) became worse, and 4 (17%) improved. Regarding classification, 2 (9%) patients had an optimal lymphatic pattern (Ia) and 3 (13%) had total involvement (IVd). No patient presented decreased hepatic uptake after surgical treatment. Conclusions The study found relevant changes in preoperative and postoperative lymphoscintigraphy, demonstrating the existence of functional differences in the lymphatic system of the upper limb. Alterations in lymphatic drainage pattern may already be perceived 60 days postoperatively, as can signs of lymphovenous anastomoses.

Myocardial scintigraphy with meta-iodo-benzyl-guanidine (123I cMIBG) has been studied in Parkinson's disease (PD), especially in Asian countries, but not in Latin America. Most of these studies include individuals with PD associated to a defined dysautonomia. Our goal is to report the cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission in de novo Brazilian patients with sporadic PD, without clinically defined dysautonomia. We evaluated retrospectively a series of 21 consecutive cases with PD without symptoms or signs of dysautonomia assessed by the standard bedside tests. This number was reduced to 14 with the application of exclusion criteria. 123I cMIBG SPECT up-take was low or absent in all of them and the heart/mediastinum ratio was low in 12 of 14. We concluded that 123I cMIBG has been able to identify cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission disorder in Brazilian de novo PD patients without clinically defined dysautonomia.

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