Utility of internal mammary lymph node removal when noted by intraoperative gamma probe detection.
BACKGROUND
Lymphatic mapping (LM) for breast cancer has made internal mammary node (IMN) detection practical and dependable. This study demonstrates the necessity of IMN removal when suggested by intraoperative radioguided surgery detection.


METHODS
From April 1998 to July 2000, 1273 patients underwent LM for breast cancer. LM was performed using the combined dye and radiocolloid technique. Patients were scanned operatively with a gamma probe over the IMN area, and most underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Nodes were removed from patients in whom radioactivity was detected in the internal mammary area.


RESULTS
Thirty of the 1273 (2.4%) patients mapped had at least one IMN removed. Twenty-two of 30 (73.3%) had inner quadrant lesions. Five of 30 (16.7%) patients had IMNs that were positive for metastatic disease. Three of these five had no metastatic spread to the axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN). One of thirty (3.3%) patients with IMN localization had neither hot nor blue nodes detected in an SLN procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
Radioguided SLN detection should be attempted in the IMN basin with all tumors. If an IMN is identified, it should be removed. IMN biopsy is a feasible, low-risk procedure when directed by radioguided LM and provides a guide for radiotherapy for patients with positive IMNs.
Dupont
E
E
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute at the University of South Florida, Tampa 33612-9497, USA. dupontel@moffitt.usf.edu
Cox
C E
CE
Nguyen
K
K
Salud
C J
CJ
Peltz
E S
ES
Whitehead
G F
GF
Ebert
M D
MD
Ku
N N
NN
Reintgen
D S
DS
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008220:Lymphography; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy