The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the treatment of multicentric invasive breast cancer using a subareolar injection of tracer.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in multicentric breast cancer (MBC) performed by means of a subareolar (SA) injection of both 99Tc-labeled human albumin colloid and lymphazurin.


METHODS
Between January 2002 and October 2007, 34 patients with MBC with clinically negative axilla underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) followed by total axillary node dissection (AD). Overall successful identification rate of SLN was 100%; there were no false negatives and overall accuracy rate was 100%.


RESULTS
The mean number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) identified was 1.8 +/- 0.88 (range = 1-4); the mean number of axillary lymph nodes examined was 21.4 +/- 5.76 (range = 8-36).


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that SA injection of the tracer is feasible and efficacious in the identification of the SLN. The accuracy of SLNB in MBC is comparable to that obtained in unifocal disease.
Cipolla
Calogero
C
Division of General and Oncological Surgery, Department of Oncology, University of Palermo, AOUP Paolo Giaccone, Via del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy. calogerocipolla@virgilio.it
Vieni
Salvatore
S
Fricano
Salvatore
S
Cabibi
Daniela
D
Graceffa
Giuseppa
G
Costa
Renato
R
Latteri
Stefania
S
Latteri
Mario A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004396:Coloring Agents; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; C025484:iso-sulfan blue