title: Sentinel node biopsy using a magnetic tracer versus standard technique: the SentiMAG Multicentre Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The SentiMAG Multicentre Trial evaluated a new magnetic technique for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) against the standard (radioisotope and blue dye or radioisotope alone). The magnetic technique does not use radiation and provides both a color change (brown dye) and a handheld probe for node localization. The primary end point of this trial was defined as the proportion of sentinel nodes detected with each technique (identification rate).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 160 women with breast cancer scheduled for SLNB, who were clinically and radiologically node negative, were recruited from seven centers in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands. SLNB was undertaken after administration of both the magnetic and standard tracers (radioisotope with or without blue dye).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 170 SLNB procedures were undertaken on 161 patients, and 1 patient was excluded, leaving 160 patients for further analysis. The identification rate was 95.0 % (152 of 160) with the standard technique and 94.4 % (151 of 160) with the magnetic technique (0.6 % difference; 95 % upper confidence limit 4.4 %; 6.9 % discordance). Of the 22 % (35 of 160) of patients with lymph node involvement, 16 % (25 of 160) had at least 1 macrometastasis, and 6 % (10 of 160) had at least a micrometastasis. Another 2.5 % (4 of 160) had isolated tumor cells. Of 404 lymph nodes removed, 297 (74 %) were true sentinel nodes. The lymph node retrieval rate was 2.5 nodes per patient overall, 1.9 nodes per patient with the standard technique, and 2.0 nodes per patient with the magnetic technique.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The magnetic technique is a feasible technique for SLNB, with an identification rate that is not inferior to the standard technique.
authors: Division of Cancer Studies, Department of Research Oncology, King's College London, London, UK, michael.douek@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Douek
authors: Joost
authors: J
authors: Klaase
authors: Ian
authors: I
authors: Monypenny
authors: Ashutosh
authors: A
authors: Kothari
authors: Katalin
authors: K
authors: Zechmeister
authors: Douglas
authors: D
authors: Brown
authors: Lynda
authors: L
authors: Wyld
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Drew
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Garmo
authors: Olorunsola
authors: O
authors: Agbaje
authors: Quentin
authors: Q
authors: Pankhurst
authors: Bauke
authors: B
authors: Anninga
authors: Maarten
authors: M
authors: Grootendorst
authors: Bennie
authors: B
authors: Ten Haken
authors: Margaret A
authors: MA
authors: Hall-Craggs
authors: Arnie
authors: A
authors: Purushotham
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Pinder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007390:International Agencies; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents