Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer--the Aarhus experience

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Accurate staging of breast cancer is crucial for treatment planning.
• Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a key procedure for assessing axillary lymph node status in early-stage breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a combined Tc-99m labelled colloid and blue dye method for sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with unifocal breast cancer.
• To determine the accuracy and reliability of this SLN identification technique in detecting axillary metastases.

Main Methods:

• Eighty patients with newly diagnosed unifocal breast cancer and no sonographically verified axillary metastases underwent SLN biopsy.
• A combination of Tc-99m labelled colloid (Albures) and blue dye (Patent Blue V) was injected peritumorally for SLN identification.
• Lymphoscintigraphy was not utilized in this study.

Main Results:

• The SLN was successfully identified in 97.5% (78/80) of patients.
• Metastatic disease was found in 54% (43/80) of patients.
• In 77% (33/43) of positive cases, the SLN was the only involved node, and no false-negative results were observed.

Conclusions:

• The combined Tc-99m colloid and blue dye method is a highly effective technique for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer.
• This SLN biopsy approach demonstrates high sensitivity and accuracy, with potential for widespread adoption in clinical practice.
• Refining indications for SLN biopsy could allow its application to a majority of breast cancer patients.