Validation of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in patients with symptomatic breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer aims to allow lymph node negative women to avoid axillary clearance by providing a minimally invasive means of staging the axilla. However, before its implementation into routine clinical practice, initiating departments must verify their expertise in each of the surgical, radiological and pathological components necessary for its successful performance. Here, we present our validation experience.


METHODS
Thirty patients with breast cancer of any stage (but without clinical axillary lymphadenopathy) undergoing definitive resection of their primary tumour underwent lymphatic mapping (using blue dye alone or in combination with radioisotope) and sentinel node biopsy concurrent with standard level II axillary clearance over a ten month period.


RESULTS
All patients had sentinel nodes identified intraoperatively. The sentinel node in 29 patients correctly predicted the status of axillary involvement. One patient had non-sentinel nodal disease without metastases being identified in their sentinel node. Such a single false negative out of thirty patients is considered acceptable by current guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
Validation of expertise in sentinel node identification and analysis is feasible over a relatively short period of time in a regional symptomatic breast unit. We now feel confident in offering this procedure to selected patients with breast cancer in our catchment area in place of routine axillary clearance.
Cahill
R A
RA
Dept of Surgery, Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Breast Care Unit, Waterford Regional Hospital.
Diamond
L
L
Landers
R
R
Walsh
D
D
Watson
R G K
RG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals