Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026
The Application of 1% Methylene Blue Dye As a Single Technique in Breast Cancer Sentinel Node Biopsy
Published on: June 1, 2019
Methylene blue dye, an accurate dye for sentinel lymph node identification in early breast cancer
Carole Mathelin1, Sabrina Croce, David Brasse
1Unité de sénologie, 1 place de l'Hôpital, F-67091 Strasbourg Cedex, France. carole.mathelin@chru-strasbourg.fr
Purpose:
The aim of this prospective study was to analyze the safety of methylene blue dye (MBD) and compare its efficacy with that of isotopic mapping for sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in breast cancer.
Patients And Methods:
The SLN procedure, involving isotopic mapping and MBD (subareolar intraparenchymal injections of 2 mL, 10 mg/mL), was performed on 100 patients with early breast cancer.
Results:
The procedure was safe with a success rate of 99%; SLNs were, respectively, found in 65% by MBD, in 73% by lymphoscintigraphy and in 94% by gamma-probe. Out of 40 metastatic SLNs, 37 were "hot" and 32 stained. Digital examination allowed the detection of 2 additional metastatic LNs.
Conclusion:
MBD is safe and combination mapping associated with digital examination is the superior method. Modification of the procedure, favouring injections of dilute MBD (4 mL, 1.25 mg/mL) increases MBD efficiency (90%) and maintains low rates of complications.
