[Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast carcinoma: the experience from the Norwegian Radium Hospital].
BACKGROUND
We report our experience with sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in breast carcinoma.


METHODS
The series included 51 women with invasive carcinoma and 3 ductal carcinoma in situ. The first 32 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) independently of the results of the SLN biopsy. SLN was evaluated on frozen sections, paraffin sections and with immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The surgical detection rate was 98 % with a combined technique of radiocolloid and blue dye. Negative SLN was seen in 36 patients. ALND was done in 19 of these patients, with no metastases found in non-SLN. Metastases were found in SLN in 18 patients, in 3 patients detected only on immunohistochemistry. ALND was done in all positive cases. Three patients had positive non-SLN.


CONCLUSIONS
SLN biopsy seems accurate in breast carcinoma, performed with the use of radiotracer and blue dye. Immunohistochemistry increases the sensitivity of SLN biopsy.
Tafjord
Svetlana
S
Fagområde patologi, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo.
Qvist
Hanne
H
Bogsrud
Trond Velde
TV
Reed
Wenche
W
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy