Prolonged skin staining after intradermal use of patent blue in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the duration of staining of the skin after intradermal injection of patent blue during sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer.


METHODS
The clinical data of 33 consecutive patients who underwent a SLNB in combination with breast conserving therapy (BCT) in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Also, patients were interviewed at intervals of 3 months until the blue staining of their skin had disappeared.


RESULTS
At mean follow-up of 18 months (range: 12-28) patent blue was visible at the site of injection after 3, 6, 9 and 12 months in 70, 64, 44 and 41% of the patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of the intradermal injection technique of patent blue during sentinel lymph node biopsy in BCT may result in remarkably long discolouring of the skin at the site of injection.
Govaert
G A M
GA
Department of Surgery, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, P.O. Box 444, NL-3300 AK Dordrecht, The Netherlands.
Oostenbroek
R J
RJ
Plaisier
P W
PW
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors
D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C008769:sulfan blue