Experience with sentinel node localisation in a district general hospital breast unit

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Sentinel node biopsy is being evaluated as a standalone axillary staging method for breast cancer.
• Its utility in district general hospitals without radioisotope facilities is uncertain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel node biopsy using a blue dye technique in a district general hospital setting.
• To determine if this method can replace formal axillary dissection for staging breast cancer.

Main Methods:

• A series of 122 breast cancer patients underwent sentinel node biopsy.
• The procedure utilized a blue dye injection technique for lymphatic mapping.
• Sentinel node identification and subsequent pathological analysis were performed.

Main Results:

• The sentinel node was successfully identified in 113 out of 122 patients (92.6%).
• The sentinel node accurately predicted axillary status in 108 patients (96%).
• In 39 node-positive patients, the sentinel node was the sole positive node in 11 cases (26%), with five false negatives.

Conclusions:

• Sentinel node biopsy with blue dye is a feasible and accurate axillary staging procedure for breast cancer patients.
• This technique can be effectively implemented in district general hospitals, even without radioisotope facilities.
• It offers a potential alternative to formal axillary dissection in select patient groups.