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The Impact of Lymphoscintigraphy Visualization on the Prognosis of Early Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Sentinel Node Biopsy: A 20-year, Single-center Experience

  • 0Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Osaka, Suita, Japan.
Cancer Diagnosis & Prognosis +

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July 2, 2025

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July 2, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Nonvisualized lymphoscintigraphy in early breast cancer patients undergoing sentinel lymph node biopsy does not predict poorer survival. This finding indicates that nonvisualization is not a marker of increased tumor burden or worse prognosis.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Radiology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background

  • Early breast cancer prognosis is generally favorable, but recurrence remains a concern.
  • Nonvisualized lymphoscintigraphy (nonvLSG) during sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was hypothesized to indicate lymphatic obstruction and poorer survival.
  • This study investigated the prognostic value of lymphoscintigraphy visualization status in early breast cancer.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To determine if nonvisualized lymphoscintigraphy (nonvLSG) during sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is associated with overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in early breast cancer patients.
  • To assess whether nonvLSG correlates with increased tumor burden or a poorer prognosis.
  • To provide clinical guidance on managing SLNB findings.

Main Methods

  • A retrospective cohort study of 247 early breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB between 1999 and 2003.
  • Patients were categorized into visualized lymphoscintigraphy (vLSG) and nonvLSG groups.
  • Survival outcomes (OS and RFS) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression, with a median follow-up of 12.2 years.

Main Results

  • 90.3% of patients had vLSG, while 9.7% had nonvLSG.
  • No significant differences in OS or RFS were observed between the vLSG and nonvLSG groups (OS log-rank p=0.927; RFS log-rank p=0.762).
  • Estimated 20-year OS probabilities were 75% (vLSG) vs. 70% (nonvLSG), and RFS probabilities were ~70% for both groups.

Conclusions

  • Lymphoscintigraphy visualization status is not significantly associated with OS or RFS in early breast cancer patients undergoing SLNB.
  • Nonvisualization on lymphoscintigraphy does not appear to indicate a greater tumor burden or a poorer prognosis.
  • Treatment strategies for early breast cancer do not require adjustment based solely on nonvisualization in lymphoscintigraphy.

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