Abstract: Methods for conducting an operation on a living organism are provided, including methods in which a channel is provided around a tissue of the organism, and an encapsulating composition is infused into the channel to encapsulate the tissue in a capsule. The capsule impedes materials encapsulated therein from migrating to other tissues outside the capsule. Also provided are apparatuses for performing methods of the invention. In addition, an improved method of radiation therapy, in which a locally persistent radiation enhancing agent, such as iron dextran or colloidal chromic phosphate P-32, is administered in or near a tissue to be treated, is provided. The methods and apparatuses are especially useful in the treatment and removal of tumors.

Abstract: A method for identifying a sentinel node is provided. The method includes injecting tumor-bearing tissue with a marking composition, radiating marking-agent-targeting energy into suspect tissues potentially harboring the sentinel node, and detecting a lymph node within the suspect tissues first infiltrated by the marking agent. The method is conducted without detecting radioactivity, and thus avoids the health and environmental problems posed by methods based on detecting radiolabels. Moreover, the method obviates the need for surgical dissection to initially detect potential sentinel nodes. Also provided are systems for performing the method and compositions for use in the method.