[The value of immunohistochemistry in the analysis of axillary node dissection]

Immuno-histochemistry (IHC) was used and compared with Hemalum-Eosin-Safran (HES) in the analysis of the products of axillary lymphatic clearance in 42 women had breast cancer. In 32 patients who were negative by the HES test there was no lymph metastasis found by the IHC test in the 365 lymph nodes which were examined. In 3 out of 10 patients who were positive which the HES test 2 extra lymph node invasions were found, and one breach in the lymph node capsule that had not been diagnosed through HES testing were found. A review of the literature shows that the IHC test has never been show to be inferior to the HES test. The number of additional nodes that have been invaded varies between 0.9-11% in infiltrating canalicular carcinomas. The changes of the IHC test is greater in infiltrating lobular carcinomas. It varies between seven and 33%. Although the technique for using IHC is longer, it is easier to read the result and this method should be set up in current practice.