[Identification of axillary sentinel node by lymphotropic dye in breast cancer. Feasibility study apropos of 128 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer and its predictivity of axillary node status.


METHODS
Between January 1996 and June 1997, 128 patients with invasive breast carcinomas, referred to the Cancer Center of Strasbourg and Lyon (France), underwent lymphatic mapping (Patent Blue dye) and sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary clearance (Berg's level I to II).


RESULTS
Sentinel node was identified in 76.5% of cases and was predictive of axillary status in 94.9% of cases. The false negative rate of the procedure was 5.1%. Sentinel lymph node was involved in 43.9% of cases and it was the only one involved in 30.2% of cases. The sensitivity of the procedure was 94% (CI: 95% = [88%-98%]) and its specificity 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Actually considered as new attractive procedure under ongoing evaluation in prospective controlled trials, this study confirms the feasibility and reproductibility of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy, first stage before entering a new era of minimally invasive axillary surgery in breast cancer.
Rodier
J F
JF
Centre régional de lutte contre le cancer Paul-Strauss, Strasbourg, France.
Routiot
T
T
Mignotte
H
H
Janser
J C
JC
Bremond
A
A
Barlier
C
C
Ghnassia
J P
JP
Treilleux
I
I
Chassagne
C
C
Velten
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C008769:sulfan blue