Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node harvesting in patients with recurrent breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and consequences of lymphatic mapping and a ("repeat") sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure in patients with breast cancer relapse after previous breast and axillary surgery.


METHODS
Review and presentation of a patient cohort. All SLN procedures included lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye injection technique.


RESULTS
Twelve cases are described: two patients after a previous SLN procedure and ten after a previous complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Ten patients (83%) had a successful repeat SLN biopsy. After previous ALND, lymphoscintigraphy revealed drainage towards the internal mammary chain in three patients, and contralateral axillary drainage in four. Based on the information from the "repeat" SLN biopsy further treatment strategy was altered in seven of the 12 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphatic mapping and (repeat) SLN biopsy is possible and can be informative in patients who present with a relapse of breast cancer after previous surgery for primary breast cancer.
Roumen
R M H
RM
Department of Surgery, Máxima Medisch Centrum, P.O. Box 7777, 5500 MB Veldhoven, The Netherlands. r.roumen@mmc.nl
Kuijt
G P
GP
Liem
I H
IH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy