Sentinel lymph node mapping opens a new perspective in the surgical management of early-stage breast cancer: a combined approach with vital blue dye lymphatic mapping and radioguided surgery.
Recent studies have demonstrated the possibility of identifying the sentinel lymph node (sN) as a reliable predictor of axillary lymph node status in both cutaneous melanoma and breast cancer. However, some important issues need further definition: (1) optimization of the technique for intraoperative detection of the sN; (2) predictive value of the sN as regards axillary lymph node status, and (3) reliability of intraoperative histology of the sN. We report our experience in sN mapping in patients with Stage I-II breast cancer, with the aim of assessing: (1) the feasibility of lymphatic mapping with a combined approach (vital blue dye lymphatic mapping and radioguided surgery); (2) the agreement of the intraoperative histologic examination of the sN, by means of hematoxylin and eosin staining with final histology, and (3) the accuracy of sN histology as a predictor of axillary lymph node status.
Canavese
G
G
Division of Surgical Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy.
Gipponi
M
M
Catturich
A
A
Di Somma
C
C
Vecchio
C
C
Rosato
F
F
Tomei
D
D
Cafiero
F
F
Moresco
L
L
Nicolò
G
G
Carli
F
F
Villa
G
G
Buffoni
F
F
Badellino
F
F
D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016719:Radioimmunodetection; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D004396:Coloring Agents; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid