[Network for sentinel lymph node research in breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
The goals of this paper were to determine the accuracy of the sentinel node in predicting axillary nodal status and to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating sentinel node biopsy into a general practice.


METHODS
Between June 1999 and February 2003, 304 patients with clinically T0-T2[< 3 cm] M0 breast cancer underwent sentinel node biopsy. Both lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye were used to guide this biopsy. The procedure was followed by a complete axillary dissection in the first patients and when the sentinel node was positive. Sentinel nodes were evaluated using serial levels of hematoxylin eosin staining, and cytokeratin immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
The overall sentinel node detection rate was 99% (301 of 304 patients). The accuracy of the identification in operating room was 98% (296 of 301 patients). The sentinel node was involved in 75 patients (25%): metastases (38 patients), micrometastases (32 patients) and isolated tumor cells (5 patients). The false negative rate was 0% and the negative predictive value 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support that the sentinel node biopsy is an accurate predictor of axillary nodal status in patients with early breast cancer and implementing a network greatly facilitates its' discovery.
Delaloye
Jean-François
JF
Département de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique, CHUV, Lausanne.
Monod
Jean-François
JF
Friedli
Anne
A
Burgener
Franz
F
Stalder
Jean-Bernard
JB
Fiche
Maryse
M
De Grandi
Pierre
P
Delaloye
Angelika Bischof
AB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy