title: Occult breast lesion localization and concomitant sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer (SNOLL).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mammographic screening and the increasing resolution output of mammography have raised the identification number of small-size mammary lesions without clinical expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate in a prospective study the localization techique and concomitent sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer (SNOLL - Sentinel lymph Node biopsy and Occult Lesion Localization).
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified by means of imaging techniques a number of 107 patients with clinically occult suspicious breast tumors. All patients preoperatively underwent a protocol in which the injection of 99mTc-nannocolloid under imaging procedures was performed. Surgical excision was performed, guided by the hand held gammaprobe. The sentinel lymph node was identified as an axillary hot spot on the probe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All primary lesions were identified and were clear of invasive margins needing excision. 98 tumors proved to be malignant on frozen sections. 7 lesions could not be clearly examined through frozen section and 2 proved to be benign. 6 out of 7 suspicious lesions confirmed to be malignant on parrafin embedded sections. Sentinel lymph node was identified in a number of 95 out of 98 patients. In 14 cases complete axillary lymphadenectomy was performed. The average specimen weight was 40 grams.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using this technique, we removed the lesions identified prior to surgery in all cases, achieving a complete pathologic diagnostic, the necessary surgical treatment and also prognostic data by axillary lymph node assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department II of Surgical Oncology, "Prof. Dr. Al. Trestioreanu" Institute of Oncology, Bucharest, Romania. drbordea@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bordea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plesca
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Condrea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gherghe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gociman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blidaru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary