[Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy in non-palpable breast cancer].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in non-palpable breast cancer (NPBC) patients in comparison with palpable breast cancer (PBC) patients.


METHODS
199 breast cancer patients were studied. Patients were classified into two groups: NPBC and PBC. Following sentinel node biopsy all patients underwent axillary lymphadenectomy. Surgery was performed at 4-24 h after peritumoral injection of 111MBq 99mTc-nanocolloid. Histological sentinel node analysis was performed by cytological imprinting and delayed study. The following parameters were analyzed in both groups: scintigraphic and surgical detection rates, true positives (TP), true negatives (TN), sensitivity (S), predictive negative value (PNV), false negative rate (FNR) and global precision (GP) of the technique.


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed (p > 0.05) in either the lymphoscintigraphy or surgical sentinel node detection, or drainage to internal mammary chain (p = 0.211) in both groups. Metastatic axillary prevalence was lower in NPBC group (p = 0.019). Similar S, NPV and GP values (>90 %) and FNR (< or = 6 %) were found in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The reliability of the technique is similar in both groups. Drainage is predominantly axilar. Drainage to internal mammary chain was more frequently seen in medial tumours and in NPBC. Metastatic axillary prevalence was lower in the NPBC group.
Benítez Segura
A
A
Servicio de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. abenitez@csub.scs.es
Bajén Lázaro
M T
MT
Rodríguez-Gasén
A
A
Guirao
S
S
Ferran
N
N
Ricart
Y
Y
Mora
J
J
Prieto
L
L
Plà
M J
MJ
Palacín
J A
JA
Català
I
I
Gil Gil
M
M
Martín-Comín
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C083602:technetium Tc 99m nanocolloid