[Extemporaneous examination of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer: is the glass half full or half empty?].
Intra-operative examination of sentinel LN is controversial. Concordance with definitive exam of SLN in this series was 81%, though only 54% of positive cases were diagnosed. Micrometastases and ITC were usually lost intraoperatively, accounting for 14% of cases. Frozen section and touch prep of the SLN were approximately equivalent. The latter has the advantage of preserving tissue for step-analysis of SLN. The ultimate method of intraoperative analysis of SLN which can combine cost-effectiveness and accuracy needs to be determined.
Fortunato
L
L
Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Ospedale MG Vannini, Roma.
Amini
M
M
Farina
M
M
Rapacchietta
S
S
Costarelli
L
L
Piro
F
F
Alessi
G
G
Pompili
P
P
Bianca
S
S
Vitelli
C E
CE
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005629:Frozen Sections; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy