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Updated: May 25, 2026
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Clinical and histopathological factors affecting failed sentinel node localization in axillary staging for breast
Matei Dordea1, Hugh Colvin, Phil Cox
1Breast Unit, Department of General Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Kayll Road, SR4 7TP Sunderland, United Kingdom. matei.dordea@nhs.net
Background:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard of care in axillary staging of clinically node-negative breast cancer patients.
Aims:
To analyze reasons for failure of SLN localization by means of a multivariate analysis of clinical and histopathological factors.
Methods:
We performed a review of 164 consecutive breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB. A superficial injection technique was used.
Results:
9/164 patients failed to show nodes. In 7/9 patients no evidence of radioactivity or blue dye was observed. Age and nodal status were the only statistically significant factors (p < 0.05). For every unit increase in age there was a 9% reduced chance of failed SLN localization. Patients with negative nodal status have 90% reduced risk of failed sentinel node localization than patients with macro or extra capsular nodal invasion.
Discussion:
The results suggest that altered lymphatic dynamics secondary to tumour burden may play a role in failed sentinel node localization. We showed that in all failed localizations the radiocolloid persisted around the injection site, showing limited local diffusion only. While clinical and histopathological data may provide some clues as to why sentinel node localization fails, we further hypothesize that integrity of peri-areolar lymphatics is important for successful localization.
