[Value of rapid biopsy studies in the intraoperative assessment of axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer].
In a prospective, randomized trial in breast-cancer patients, the surgical procedure and the adjuvant regimen were determined intraoperatively, depending on the axillary lymph node involvement. Therefore, it was necessary to perform frozen section examinations on axillary lymph nodes. In this context it was important to analyze the value of the frozen section technique of lymph nodes in predicting axillary node involvement. In 162 patients with primary breast cancer we compared the results of the frozen sections and the paraffin histology. In 96% the intraoperative diagnosis was correct and in 4% (7 cases) the results were wrong. In 6 cases we observed a sampling error and in one case a small metastasis was misinterpreted as sinus histiocytosis. In these 7 cases less than 4 lymph nodes were examined in frozen sections and the total axillary node involvement was small (less than 4 involved nodes). There was no false positive report in this series. We conclude that frozen section examinations of axillary lymph nodes are suitable for intraoperative lymph node assessment, if at least 4 of the macroscopically most suspicious lymph nodes are observed. The final histological axillary staging (number of involved lymph nodes) has to be performed on paraffin-embedded material.
Reiner
G
G
Reiner
A
A
Jakesz
R
R
Kolb
R
R
D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
Wertigkeit der Schnellschnittuntersuchung zur intraoperativen Beurteilung des axillären Lymphknotenbefalls beim Mammakarzinom.