Superparamagnetic iron oxide for sentinel lymph node localization (SPIO (for the tracer); Magtrace (brand name))

"Sentinel lymph node localization via magnetic detection" does **not** refer to a molecular target such as a receptor, enzyme, or transporter. Instead, it describes a clinical technique using **superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles**—most commonly the product Magtrace—for identifying sentinel lymph nodes during cancer surgery. After subcutaneous or peritumoral injection of the magnetic tracer into tissue near the tumor site (often beneath the areola in breast cancer), these particles travel through lymphatic vessels and become trapped in sentinel lymph nodes. Surgeons then use a handheld probe (e.g., Sentimag system) to detect these magnetically labeled nodes intraoperatively for biopsy and pathological assessment. This method is an alternative to traditional techniques that use radioactive tracers and/or blue dye and avoids exposure to radioactivity while providing comparable accuracy for nodal identification[1][2][3][4]. The approach is primarily used in breast cancer but has applications in other cancers requiring nodal staging. **Note:** This entry is *not* a therapeutic target but rather describes a diagnostic procedure/technology utilizing non-biological agents; therefore, it should be flagged as incorrect if only molecular targets are desired.

Other names

Magnetic tracerMagtraceSiennaXPSuperparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticlesSPIO tracer

Accumulation of superparamagnetic iron oxide particles in sentinel lymph nodes enables their detection by magnetic probes during surgery[1][2][3].