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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Single-port Non-liposuction Endoscopic Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: April 3, 2026
Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with large breast
David W Ollila1, Heather B Neuman, Carolyn Sartor
1Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. David_Ollila@med.unc.edu
Background:
Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy (LM/SL) accurately evaluates the axilla in patients with small breast cancers. LM/SL in patients with large breast cancers is controversial. We examined the accuracy of LM/SL prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with large (>3.5 cm) breast cancers.
Methods:
Patients with large breast cancers underwent LM/SL prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy using 99m-technetium radiocolloid and isosulfan-blue dye technique.
Results:
Twenty-one patients with large (median 5.0 cm) breast cancers underwent LM/SL prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Twelve patients had a tumor-free sentinel node (SN) and received doxorubicin-based chemotherapy; 9 patients had disease in the SN and received doxorubicin followed by a taxane. No patient progressed while receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, nor has there been an axillary recurrence (median 36 months).
Conclusions:
LM/SL performed prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with large breast cancers is an accurate method of axillary staging. Axillary staging prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy may have prognostic and therapeutic implications.
