title: Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy before sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.
abstract: Pre-operative lymphoscintigram for axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may not be required for successful SLNB. The 117 consecutive patients who underwent SLNB had pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy. The operating surgeon was blinded to the results of the lymphoscintigram before SLNB. After SLNB was complete, the surgeon was unblinded to the results of the lymphoscintigram; re-exploration carried out if more nodes were predicted on the lymphoscintigram. 116 patients (99%) had successful SLNB before unblinding. In 85 patients (73%), operative findings corresponded with scintigraphic findings. In 26 patients (22%), the lymphoscintigram predicted more sentinel nodes than had been found; further nodes were identified and excised in only 4 patients (3%). None were positive for cancer. SLNB was successful in 99% of cases without pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy. Only 3% of patients had further nodes identified as a result of the lymphoscintigram. Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy does not improve the ability to perform axillary SLNB during breast cancer surgery.
authors.affiliation: Breast Unit, Airedale General Hospital, Skipton Road, Steeton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saddozai
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nejim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals