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Updated: Mar 29, 2026
The Application of 1% Methylene Blue Dye As a Single Technique in Breast Cancer Sentinel Node Biopsy
Published on: June 1, 2019
Regional recurrence in the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy
Maria E Linnaus1, Amylou C Dueck2, Heidi E Kosiorek2
1Department of General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA.
Background:
The incidence of all-location regional recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy is not well documented. This study attempts to identify risk factors.
Methods:
A prospectively maintained database was queried to identify patients with a regional recurrence of breast cancer after a first operation for invasive unilateral breast cancer. Patients with regional recurrence were compared with those alive and disease free at 5 years.
Results:
Twenty-one of 1,060 patients (2%) experienced a regional recurrence. Most patients (95%) underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy as their axillary staging. Those with regional recurrences had larger tumors (P < .001), higher stage disease (P < .001), more estrogen receptor- and triple-negative breast cancers (P < .001), and more positive lymph nodes (P = .007). Mastectomy (P = .001) and receipt of neoadjuvant and/or chemotherapy (P < .001) were more common among those with regional recurrences.
Conclusions:
Regional recurrence of breast cancer occurs infrequently. Risk factors include high-risk cancers, higher stage at presentation, nodal involvement, and need for therapies reflecting higher risk biology.
