Breast Cancer Sentinel Lymph Node Detection Rate: First Large Scale Multi-Centric Data for Technetium Phytate

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard for breast cancer axillary staging.
• Radiopharmaceuticals like ^99mTechnetium (Tc) colloids are globally used, achieving 94% detection rates.
• Tc phytate is utilized in Iran due to local production ease, but its large-scale detection rate is less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the detection rate of SLNB using Tc phytate.
• To assess the advantages and disadvantages of Tc phytate in SLNB.
• To analyze multicenter data on Tc phytate's efficacy in breast cancer staging.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study design.
• Inclusion of breast cancer patients undergoing SLNB with Tc phytate.
• Calculation of detection rate and comparison of injection timing (day of vs. day before surgery).

Main Results:

• 2663 women were included; the overall detection rate was 91.8%.
• The false-negative rate was 8.2%.
• Detection rates were statistically similar for injections administered on the day of or the day before surgery (P=0.32).

Conclusions:

• Tc phytate exhibits a good detection rate for radio-guided SLNB in breast cancer.
• Injection timing (day of or day before surgery) did not significantly impact the results.
• Tc phytate is a viable radiopharmaceutical for SLNB in breast cancer staging.