Reliability of axillary lymph node scintiphotography in suspected carcinoma of the breast

The ability of axillary lymph nodes to take up 99Tcm-labelled antimony sulphide colloid in suspected carcinoma of the breast was investigated in 111 consecutive patients. Eight out of 17 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast had a low colloid uptake on the affected side, i.e. a positive scintiphoto. Eighty-two out of 94 patients with benign breast disease had an equal colloid uptake on the two sides or increased uptake on the symptomatic side, i.e. a negative scintiphoto. The reliability of the test is low and the test can neither be recommended for screening to select patients for further investigations nor as a routine examination.