Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy predicts the successful identification but is not necessary in sentinel lymph nodes biopsy in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Although preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer patients is undergone commonly, its clinical significance remains controversial.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed our database that contained 636 consecutive breast cancer patients who received preoperative lymphoscintigraphy before SLNB.


RESULTS
The sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) of 86.5% of patients were well imaged by lymphoscintigraphy, and SLN were located extra-axilla in 5.3% patients. The visualization of SLN in lymphoscintigraphy was not associated with histopathologic type, location, and stage of primary tumor, as well as the time interval from injection of radiocolloid to surgery. The negative lymphoscintigraphy results were associated with excision ;biopsy before injection of radiocolloid and positive axillary node statues. The SLN was successfully detected in 625 (98.3%) enrolled patients. Failure of surgical identification of axillary SLN was associated with whether hot spot was imaged by lymphoscintigraphy. However, we identified axillary SLN in 90 (90.9%) out of 99 patients with negative axillary findings in lymphoscintigram. The false negative rate of SLNB in our study was 16.0% (15 of 94) among patients of training group, and there was no significant difference in the false negative rate between patients who had axillary hot spot in lymphoscintigram and those who had not (P = .273).


CONCLUSIONS
Visualization of SLN in preoperative lymphoscintigraphy predicted the successful SLN identification. However, it was less informative for the location of SLN during operation. Considering the complexity, time consumed, and cost, lymphoscintigraphy should at present be undergone for investigation purposes only.
Wang
Lei
L
Breast Cancer Center, Shandong Cancer Hospital, Shandong Academy of Medical Science, 440 Jiyan Rd, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China.
Yu
Jin-ming
JM
Wang
Yong-sheng
YS
Zuo
Wen-shu
WS
Gao
Yan
Y
Fan
Jiang
J
Li
Ji-yu
JY
Hu
Xu-dong
XD
Chen
Ming-lu
ML
Yang
Guo-ren
GR
Zhou
Zheng-bo
ZB
Liu
Yan-song
YS
Li
Yong-qing
YQ
Liu
Yan-bing
YB
Zhao
Tong
T
Chen
Peng
P
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013671:Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid