The modified tangential irradiation technique for breast cancer: how to cover the entire axillary region

PURPOSE: The two-portal tangential irradiation technique has usually been applied to breast cancer patients after breast-conserving surgery (1, 2) and is expected to irradiate the axillary lymph node region to some extent (3). We investigated the range of the axillary region covered by this technique and tried to devise an optimal irradiation technique (modified tangential irradiation) that would cover the axillary lymph node region properly. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We checked the status of the surgical clips left at axillary lymph node sites by reviewing the simulator films and planning CT scans of 63 patients who underwent axillary dissection of level I, I-II, or I-III lymph nodes. Then we created the modified tangential irradiation technique and applied this technique to 16 patients and checked the irradiation volume by CT scans. RESULTS: We found that all of the surgical clips on lateral-view simulator films were on the ventral side of the dorsal edge line of the humeral head. All but one clip were on the caudal side of the caudal edge line of the humeral head. Accordingly, it is possible to irradiate almost all axillary lymph node regions by setting the dorsal edge of the irradiation field on lateral-view simulator films at the dorsal edge of the humeral head and the cranial edge at the caudal edge of the humeral head. CONCLUSIONS: All breast tissue and the entire axillary lymph node region can be covered by the modified tangential irradiation technique without increasing the lung volume irradiated.     

Are the axillary lymph nodes treated by standard tangent breast fields?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the increasing use of sentinel lymph node biopsy, a growing proportion of women with early-stage invasive breast cancer are undergoing breast conserving surgery without a formal axillary lymph node dissection. A frequent question raised is whether the level I-II axillary lymph nodes are treated with standard breast tangent fields. In an attempt to answer this question, surgical clips placed at the time of the level I-II axillary lymph node dissection were used as a surrogate for the location of the nodes and the simulator films for tangent fields of 45 patients were analyzed. METHODS: Study criteria were as follows: five or more clips placed in the axilla, and all clips and the humeral head visualized on the medial tangent film. Clips were scored as "in" or "out" of the tangent field, as defined by the delineator wires. All technical parameters were analyzed to determine whether any reproducible techniques would consistently include all of the clips and, hypothetically, the axillary nodes at levels I and II. RESULTS: All clips were included in the medial tangent breast radiation field in only 38% (17 of 45) of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The standard, two-field tangent breast fields do not reliably encompass the all level I-II axillary lymph nodes as defined by this study, but some of the nodes were treated in all 45 cases.     

Evaluation of novel modified tangential irradiation technique for breast cancer patients using dose-volume histograms

PURPOSE: We have previously reported that entire axillary lymph node regions could be irradiated by the modified tangential irradiation technique (MTIT). In this study, MTIT was compared with a conventional irradiation technique (CTIT) using dose-volume histograms to verify how adequately MTIT covers the breast and axillary lymph node region and the extent to which it involves the lung and heart. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-four patients with early-stage breast cancer were treated by lumpectomy, axillary dissection, and postoperative radiotherapy. Twenty-two patients were treated with MTIT and 22 with CTIT. In 25 patients, the breast tumor was on the left and in 19 on the right. During axillary dissection, surgical clips were left as markers at the border of the axillary lymph node region. MTIT was planned by setting the dorsal edge of the radiation field on a lateral-view simulator film at the dorsal edge of the humeral head and the cranial edge of the radiation field at the caudal edge of the humeral head. CTIT was planned to ensure radiation of the breast tissue without considering the axillary region. In this study, all patients underwent computed tomography, and the CT data were transmitted on-line to a radiotherapy planning system, in which the dose-distribution computed tomography images and dose-volume histograms were calculated by defining the breast, axillary region (levels I, II, and III), lung, and heart region. RESULTS: Dose-volume histogram analysis demonstrated that breast tissue was radiated with an 86.5-100% volume (median 96.5%) by MTIT and an 83-100% volume (median, 95%) by CTIT at >95% of the isocenter dose. The axillary lymph node regions at Levels I, II, and III were irradiated with 84-100% (median, 94.5%), 59-100% (median, 89%), and 70-100% (median, 89.5%) volumes, respectively, by MTIT and with 2-84% (median, 38%), 0-53% (median, 15%), and 0-31% (median, 0%) volumes, respectively, by CTIT at >70% of the isocenter dose. The ipsilateral lung was irradiated with a 5-22% volume (median, 11.5%) by MTIT and 5-15% volume (median 9%) by CTIT at >90% of the isocenter dose. In all 25 left-sided breast cancer patients, the volumes irradiated with an 80% isocenter dose were <30 cm(3). CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrated that the breast tissue was sufficiently irradiated with both CTIT and MTIT planning, the axillary lymph node areas irradiated by MTIT were much wider than those irradiated by CTIT at all levels, and the lung and heart volumes irradiated by MTIT were small.     

Axillary lymph node dose with tangential breast irradiation

PURPOSE: The advent of sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy in the staging of breast cancer has resulted in a significant decrease in the extent of axillary nodal surgery. As the extent of axillary surgery decreases, the radiation dose and distribution within the axilla becomes increasingly important for current therapy planning and future analysis of results. This analysis examined the radiation dose distribution delivered to the anatomically defined axillary level I and II lymph node volume and surgically placed axillary clips with conventional tangential breast fields and CT-based three-dimensional (3D) planning. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Fifty consecutive patients with early-stage breast cancer undergoing breast conservation therapy were evaluated. All patients underwent 3D CT-based planning with conventional breast tangential fields designed to encompass the entire breast parenchyma. Using CT-based 3D planning, the dose distribution of the standard tangential breast irradiation fields was examined in relationship to the axillary level I and II lymph node volumes. Axillary level I and II lymph node anatomic volumes were defined by CT and surgical clips placed during complete level I-II lymph node dissection. Axillary level I-II lymph node volume doses were examined on the basis of the prescribed breast radiation dose and 3D dose distribution. RESULTS: All defined breast volumes received > or =95% of the prescribed dose. By contrast, the 95% isodose line encompassed only an average of 55% (range, 23-87%) of the axillary level I-II lymph node anatomic volume. No patient had complete coverage of the axillary level I-II lymph node region by the 95% isodose line. The mean anatomic axillary level I-II volume was 146.3 cm(3) (range, 83.1-313.0 cm(3)). The mean anatomic axillary level I-II volume encompassed by the 95% isodose line was 84.9 cm(3) (range, 25.1-219.0 cm(3)). The mean 95% isodose coverage of the surgical clip volume was 80%, and the median value was 81% (range, 58-98%). The mean volume deficit between the axillary level I-II volume and the surgical clip volume was 41.7 cm(3) (median, 30.0 cc). CONCLUSION: In this study, standard tangential breast radiation fields failed to deliver a therapeutic dose adequately to the axillary level I-II lymph node anatomic volume. No patient received complete coverage of the axillary level I-II lymph node volume. Surgically placed axillary clips also failed to delineate the level I-II axilla adequately. Definitive irradiation of the level I and II axillary lymph node region requires significant modification of standard tangential fields, best accomplished with 3D treatment planning, with specific targeting of anatomically defined axillary lymph node volumes as described, in addition to the breast parenchymal volumes.     

Initial experience with sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer at the National Cancer Center Hospital East

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node dissection is an important procedure in the surgical treatment of breast cancer. Axillary lymph node dissection is still performed in over half of breast cancer patients having histologically negative nodes, regardless of the morbidity in terms of axillary pain, numbness and lymphedema. The first regional lymph nodes draining a primary tumor are the sentinel lymph nodes. Sentinel node biopsy is a promising surgical technique for predicting histological findings in the remaining axillary lymph nodes, especially in patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer, and a worldwide feasibility study is currently in progress. METHODS: Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy were performed in the axilla by subcutaneous injection of blue dye (indigocarmine) in 88 cases of stage 0-IIIB breast cancer. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified by detecting blue-staining lymph nodes or dye-filled lymphatic tracts after total or partial mastectomy. Finally, axillary lymph node dissection was performed up to Levels I and II or more. RESULTS: Sentinel lymph nodes were successfully identified in 65 of the 88 cases (74%). In the final histological examination, the sentinel lymph nodes in 40 cases were negative, including four cases with non-sentinel-node-positive breast cancer (specificity, 100%; sensitivity, 86%). In nine (31%) of the 29 cases with histologically node-positive breast cancer, the sentinel lymph nodes were the only lymph nodes affected. Axillary lymph node status was accurately predicted in 61 (94%) of the 65 cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although it was the initial experience at the National Cancer Center Hospital East, sentinel node biopsy proved feasible and successful. This method may be a reasonable alternative to the standard axillary lymph node dissection in patients with early breast cancer.     

早期乳腺癌腋窝亚LevelⅡ淋巴结清扫的初步研究

目的：探索基层医院早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结外科处理的适宜方法。方法：对9例符合研究条件的病例先美兰染色（meythylene blue staining）实施前哨淋巴结活检（sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）,再补充实施腋窝淋巴结清扫术（axillary lymph node dissection,ALND）;ALND术中显露腋静脉,以腋静脉下2cm为界缝线标记,术后将标本从缝线处分离,对淋巴结进行分组取材,将前哨淋巴结、腋静脉下2cm内淋巴结（亚levelⅡ淋巴结）、腋窝其余淋巴结（其余淋巴结）分组送病理检查,观察各组淋巴结数量及肿瘤细胞腋淋巴结转移规律。结果：找到前哨淋巴结6例;5例前哨淋巴结、亚levelⅡ淋巴结、其余淋巴结均为阴性;1例前哨淋巴结、亚levelⅡ淋巴结、其余淋巴结均为阳性;另有1例患者前哨淋巴结未找到,而亚levelⅡ淋巴结检出阳性。结论：基层医院对于早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫,可以用美兰染色行前哨淋巴结活检,若前哨淋巴结阳性或未找到前哨淋巴结,行ALND;若前哨淋巴结阴性,行亚levelⅡ淋巴结清扫。     

早期乳腺癌腋窝亚LevelⅡ淋巴结清扫的初步研究

目的:探索基层医院早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结外科处理的适宜方法。方法:对9例符合研究条件的病例先美兰染色(meythylene blue staining)实施前哨淋巴结活检(sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB),再补充实施腋窝淋巴结清扫术(axillary lymph node dissection,ALND);ALND术中显露腋静脉,以腋静脉下2cm为界缝线标记,术后将标本从缝线处分离,对淋巴结进行分组取材,将前哨淋巴结、腋静脉下2cm内淋巴结(亚levelⅡ淋巴结)、腋窝其余淋巴结(其余淋巴结)分组送病理检查,观察各组淋巴结数量及肿瘤细胞腋淋巴结转移规律。结果:找到前哨淋巴结6例;5例前哨淋巴结、亚levelⅡ淋巴结、其余淋巴结均为阴性;1例前哨淋巴结、亚levelⅡ淋巴结、其余淋巴结均为阳性;另有1例患者前哨淋巴结未找到,而亚levelⅡ淋巴结检出阳性。结论:基层医院对于早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫,可以用美兰染色行前哨淋巴结活检,若前哨淋巴结阳性或未找到前哨淋巴结,行ALND;若前哨淋巴结阴性,行亚levelⅡ淋巴结清扫。     

Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients: a study of 115 cases with cytologic-histologic correlation

BACKGROUND: Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of axillary lymph nodes is a simple, minimally invasive technique that can be used to improve preoperative determination of the status of the axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer, thereby serving as a tool with which to triage patients for sentinel versus full lymph node dissection procedures. The aim of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of FNA cytology to detect metastatic breast carcinoma in axillary lymph nodes. METHODS: A total of 115 FNAs of axillary lymph nodes of breast cancer patients with histologic follow-up (subsequent sentinel or full lymph node dissection) were included in the current study. The specificity and sensitivity, as well as the positive and negative predictive values, were calculated. RESULTS: The positive and negative predictive values of FNA cytology of axillary lymph nodes for metastatic breast carcinoma were 1.00 and 0.60, respectively. The overall sensitivity of axillary lymph node FNA in all the cases studied was 65% and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of FNA was lower in the sentinel lymph node group than in the full lymph node dissection group (16% vs 88%, respectively), which was believed to be attributable to the small size of the metastatic foci in the sentinel lymph node group (median, 0.25 cm). All false-negative FNAs, with the exception of 1 case, were believed to be the result of sampling error. There was no 'true' false-positive FNA case in the current study. CONCLUSIONS: FNA of axillary lymph nodes is a sensitive and very specific method with which to detect metastasis in breast cancer patients. Because of its excellent positive predictive value, full axillary lymph node dissection can be planned safely instead of a sentinel lymph node dissection when a preoperative positive FNA result is rendered. .     

Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer patients with clinically negative lymph-nodes

Background  The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the usefulness of dye-guided sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer patients with clinically negative nodes and to clarify the anatomic distribution of sentinel nodes in the axilla. Methods  Sentinel node biopsy was performed in patients with T1 or T2 breast cancer who had clinically negative nodes, using an indocyanin green dye-guided method. Thereafter, complete axillary dissection was performed. Sentinel node and complete axillary lymph-node dissection specimens were examined separately, and the incidence of metastases was compared. Results  We identified sentinel nodes in 115 (76.7%) of 150 patients with clinically negative nodes. The mean number of sentinel nodes was 1.7 (range, one to eight nodes). The mean size of sentinel nodes was 9.0 mm (range, 2.0 to 28.0 mm). Of the 31 patients who had a tumor-positive sentinel node, 14 (45.2%) patients had only the sentinel node involved. There was concordance on histological examination between sentinel node and axillary node status in 111 (96.5%) of 115 cases. Of the sentinel nodes 89.1% were located cranially to the intercostobrachial nerve and within 2 cm of the lateral edge of the pectoralis minor muscle. Conclusions  Sentinel node biopsy guided by indocyanin green dye is an easy technique with an acceptable detection rate of sentinel nodes for breast cancer patients with clinically negative nodes. Most of the sentinel nodes were located near the lateral edge of the pectoralis minor muscle and cranial to the intercostobrachial nerve.     

Intraoperative examination of axillary sentinel lymph nodes in breast carcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Routine histologic examination of axillary sentinel lymph nodes predicts axillary lymph node status and may spare patients with breast carcinoma axillary lymph node dissection. To avoid the need for two separate surgical sessions, the results of sentinel lymph node examination should be available intraoperatively. However, routine frozen-section examination of sentinel lymph nodes is liable to yield false-negative results. This study was conducted to ascertain whether extensive intraoperative examination of sentinel lymph nodes by frozen section examination would attain a sensitivity comparable to that obtained by routine histologic examination without intraoperative frozen section examination. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 155 clinically lymph node negative breast carcinoma patients, the axillary sentinel lymph nodes were examined intraoperatively, before complete axillary lymph node dissection. The frozen sentinel lymph nodes were sectioned subserially at 50-microm intervals. For each level, one section was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the other section immunostained for cytokeratins using a rapid immunocytochemical assay. RESULTS: Sentinel lymph node metastases were detected in 70 of the 155 patients (45%). In 37 cases the sentinel lymph nodes were the only axillary lymph nodes with metastases. Immunocytochemistry did not increase the sensitivity of the examination. Five patients had metastases in the nonsentinel axillary lymph nodes despite having negative sentinel lymph nodes. The general concordance between sentinel and axillary lymph node status was 96.7%; the negative predictive value of intraoperative sentinel lymph node examination was 94.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative examination of axillary sentinel lymph nodes is effective in predicting the axillary lymph node status of breast carcinoma patients and may be instrumental in deciding whether to spare patients axillary lymph node dissection.     

Axillary surgery in breast cancer patients

Surgeons have routinely removed ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes from women with breast cancer for over 100 years. The procedure provides important staging information, enhances regional control of the malignancy and may improve survival. As screening of breast cancer has increased, the mean size of newly diagnosed primary invasive breast cancers has steadily decreased and so has the number of women with lymph node metastases. Recognising that the therapeutic benefit of removing normal nodes may be low, alternatives to the routine level I/II axillary lymph node dissection have been sought. A decade ago sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was introduced. Because of its high accuracy and relatively low morbidity, this technique is now widely used to identify women with histologically involved nodes prior to the formal axillary node dissection. Specifically, SLNB has allowed surgeons to avoid a formal axillary lymph node biopsy in women with histologically uninvolved sentinel nodes, while identifying women with involved sentinel nodes who derive the most benefit from a completion axillary node dissection. Despite the increasing use of SLNB for initial management of the axilla in women with breast cancer, important questions remain regarding patient selection criteria and optimal surgical methods for performing the biopsy. This article discusses the evolution of axillary node surgery for women with breast cancer.     

Matching supraclavicular fields to the extent of axillary surgery in women prescribed radiotherapy for early stage carcinoma of the breast

AimsTo determine (1) if the lower border of a standard anterior radiotherapy field to the supraclavicular fossa matches the upper limit of level II/III axillary dissection; and (2) whether standard lung blocks in patients prescribed axillary radiotherapy shield target axillary tissue in women with breast cancer.Materials and methodsBetween 1999 and 2001, 30 women with breast cancer undergoing level II/III axillary dissection had titanium clips placed to define the upper and medial limits of surgery. At radiotherapy planning, a supraclavicular fossa field similar to that described in the UK START trial protocol was simulated, with head twist applied to position the inferior field border (50% isodose) 1 cm below and parallel to the lower border of the clavicle. The field position was recorded on X-ray film. The location of the most superior axillary clip was measured in relation to this inferior field border on the X-ray film. The location of the most medial clip was measured in relation to the lung/chest wall interface.ResultsThe median distance between the most superior clip and the inferior border of the supraclavicular field was 3.6 cm (0.8–6.9 cm), representing significant underlap in all cases. In addition, five out of 30 (17%) patients had surgical clips over 2.0 cm medial to the lung/chest wall interface, suggesting that medial lymph nodes in an undissected axilla would be shielded by standard lung blocks in patients prescribed axillary radiotherapy.ConclusionCurrent standard radiation fields to the supraclavicular fossa, as applied in this study, leave apical axillary lymph nodes untreated in a high proportion of patients. Standard lung shielding, as applied in this study to patients simulated for axillary radiotherapy, protect medial axillary lymph nodes in a few patients. A change in practice is recommended.     

Accuracy of fine‐needle aspiration cytology of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of axillary lymph nodes is a simple, minimally invasive technique that can be used to improve preoperative determination of the status of the axillary lymph nodes in patients with breast cancer, thereby serving as a tool with which to triage patients for sentinel versus full lymph node dissection procedures. The aim of the current study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of FNA cytology to detect metastatic breast carcinoma in axillary lymph nodes.

METHODS

A total of 115 FNAs of axillary lymph nodes of breast cancer patients with histologic follow‐up (subsequent sentinel or full lymph node dissection) were included in the current study. The specificity and sensitivity, as well as the positive and negative predictive values, were calculated.

RESULTS

The positive and negative predictive values of FNA cytology of axillary lymph nodes for metastatic breast carcinoma were 1.00 and 0.60, respectively. The overall sensitivity of axillary lymph node FNA in all the cases studied was 65% and the specificity was 100%. The sensitivity of FNA was lower in the sentinel lymph node group than in the full lymph node dissection group (16% vs 88%, respectively), which was believed to be attributable to the small size of the metastatic foci in the sentinel lymph node group (median, 0.25 cm). All false‐negative FNAs, with the exception of 1 case, were believed to be the result of sampling error. There was no ‘true’ false‐positive FNA case in the current study.

CONCLUSIONS

FNA of axillary lymph nodes is a sensitive and very specific method with which to detect metastasis in breast cancer patients. Because of its excellent positive predictive value, full axillary lymph node dissection can be planned safely instead of a sentinel lymph node dissection when a preoperative positive FNA result is rendered. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2008. © American Cancer Society.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结规范化处理

前哨淋巴结活检术（sentinel lymph node biopsy, SLNB）标志着乳腺癌淋巴结手术进入微创时代,循证医学I类证据支持SLNB是临床腋窝淋巴结阴性早期乳腺癌患者安全、有效的腋窝诊断技术,前哨淋巴结阴性及低肿瘤负荷患者行SLNB替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术后,腋窝淋巴结复发风险和并发症极低。作为乳腺癌区域淋巴结微创诊断技术,SLNB安全有效替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术应建立在规范化操作前提下。目前SLNB在我国早期乳腺癌患者中逐渐趋于规范化和普及化,本文将对临床实践中SLNB的适应证、示踪剂应用、学习曲线掌握、手术规范操作和组织标本处理等问题进行综述。      

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with male breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now a widely implemented technique for evaluating the axilla in women with early stage breast carcinoma. Men who develop breast carcinoma are at similar risk as their female counterparts of developing the morbidities related to axillary dissection. SLNB is aimed at preventing these morbidities. In this study, the authors evaluated the role of SLNB in the treatment of men with early stage breast carcinoma. METHODS: Among the 1692 patients who underwent SLNB at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 16 men with breast carcinoma were identified. The charts and records of these 16 patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 57.2 years. The mean tumor size was 1.3 cm. In 15 of 16 patients (93.75%) and in all patients with T1 tumors, one or more sentinel lymph nodes were successfully identified. SLNB failed in one patient, who had a T2 tumor (3 cm). Ten of the 15 patients had negative sentinel lymph nodes (66.7%). Four of these patients had no additional lymph nodes removed, whereas six patients had additional lymph nodes removed, all of which were negative. Two patients (13.3%) had positive sentinel lymph nodes on frozen-section analysis and underwent immediate completion axillary dissection: Both had additional positive lymph nodes. Three patients (20.0%) had positive sentinel lymph nodes on further sectioning or immunohistochemistry, and two patients underwent completion axillary dissection: Neither patient had additional positive lymph nodes. The third patient had one immunohistochemically positive lymph node and did not undergo completion axillary dissection. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB for patients with breast carcinoma was as successful in men as it has been shown to be in women and may be offered as a management option to men with early stage breast carcinoma by surgeons who are experienced with the technique.     

乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫的临床研究

目的:探讨乳腺癌在乳腔镜下行前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫的可行性。方法:通过亚甲蓝示踪对40例Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌行乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检(ESLNB),然后行乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫(EALND),对获得的全部淋巴结行病理检查HE染色,确定前哨淋巴结(SLN)检出率、假阴性率等。结果:40例乳腺癌患者SLN检出率为97.44%(39/40),准确率为94.87%(37/39),灵敏度为94.74%(18/19),假阴性率5.26%(1/19);每例平均前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)检出数目1-6枚,腋窝淋巴结清扫(ALND)检出数目10-29枚。结论:应用乳腔镜下前哨淋巴结活检和腋窝淋巴结清扫准确可行,美容效果好,并发症低,可对早期乳腺癌进行准确腋窝淋巴结分期。     

Intraoperative lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node dissection in breast cancer

Because the tumor status of the regional lymph nodes is the most important prognostic factor in patients with early-stage breast cancer, accurate histopathologic assessment of these nodes is essential for optimal management, including the selection of candidates for adjuvant systemic therapies. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping using a vital blue dye, with or without a radiocolloid, can identify the first axillary node to receive lymphatic drainage from a primary breast carcinoma. Focused histopathologic assessment of this sentinel node can be used to determine the tumor status of the entire axillary basin. The minimal morbidity and high accuracy of sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) in breast cancer have been validated by multiple independent investigators, and the data suggest that this surgical technique may eventually replace complete lymph node dissection as the preferred axillary procedure for the management of early-stage disease. In experienced hands, SLND can be successfully performed in more than 90% of eligible breast cancer patients; the tumor status of the sentinel node accurately predicts the status of all axillary nodes in more than 95% of cases. This article reviews the current status, controversies, and future directions of SLND as a staging technique for patients with primary breast carcinoma.     

乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫的临床研究

目的：探讨乳腺癌在乳腔镜下行前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫的可行性。方法：通过亚甲蓝示踪对40例Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌行乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检（ESLNB）,然后行乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫（EALND）,对获得的全部淋巴结行病理检查HE染色,确定前哨淋巴结（SLN）检出率、假阴性率等。结果：40例乳腺癌患者SLN检出率为97.44%（39/40）,准确率为94.87%（37/39）,灵敏度为94.74%（18/19）,假阴性率5.26%（1/19）;每例平均前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）检出数目1-6枚,腋窝淋巴结清扫（ALND）检出数目10-29枚。结论：应用乳腔镜下前哨淋巴结活检和腋窝淋巴结清扫准确可行,美容效果好,并发症低,可对早期乳腺癌进行准确腋窝淋巴结分期。     

Interest of periareolar injection for colorimetric detection of sentinel node in breast cancer

Most teams working on sentinel node biopsy in the treatment of breast cancer inject either radioactive colloid or vital blue dye around the primary tumour. Many anatomical studies and lymphoscintigraphical studies, some very old, have shown that the lymphatic drainage of the breast is collected first in the periareolar plexus of Sappey, then routed to the axilla in 95% of cases, via one or two primary collectors. In a series of 94 breast cancers measuring less than 3 cm, with any palpable axillary lymph node, 2 ml of patent blue was injected intradermally around the areola, at the two meridians around the tumor. The sentinel node was identified in 89 cases (94,7%), regardless of the location of the primary tumor. All the sentinel nodes were located in the lower axilla. An average of 1.6 nodes were found per patient. In 41 cases, axillary lymph node dissection was performed either immediately (5 technical failures, 9 positive frozen section) or delayed only if the sentinel node was positive, either on standard H&E staining or on immunohistochemistry (27 cases). Thus, axillary lymph node dissection was not performed in 48 patients (55%). In positive node patient, the sentinel node was the only positive lymph node in 20 patients (55%). For 5 positive node patients, axillary lymph node dissection was not performed: poor vital status (2 micro-metastatic nodes) or by decision of patient (3 IHC positive nodes). With this periareolar injection procedure, the rate of detection is highly satisfactory and is comparable to that usually published with peritumoral injection. This procedure seems appropriate in all cases, regardless of the topography, the size or the multifocality of breast cancer.     

Efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is rapidly becoming the standard of care in the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer. Male breast cancer although relatively rare, has typically been treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Men who develop breast carcinoma have the same risk as their female counterparts of developing the morbidities associated with axillary dissection. SLNB has been championed as a procedure aimed at preventing those morbidities. We recently have evaluated the role of SLNB in the treatment of men with early stage breast cancer. METHODS: Among the 18 men treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center for breast cancer from May 1998 to November 2002, 6 were treated with SLNB. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 1.6 cm. The mean patient age was 59.8 years. All of the patients had one or more sentinel lymph nodes identified. Two of the six did not have confirmatory axillary dissection. Three of the six had positive sentinel lymph nodes (50%). Only one of the three patients with a positive sentinel node had more nodes positive. One of the six patients had a positive node on frozen section and underwent immediate complete axillary dissection. This patient had no additional positive nodes. No patients in our series had immunohistochemical studies of the lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Men with early stage breast carcinoma may be offered the management option of SLNB since in the hands of experienced surgeons it has a success rate apparently equal to that in their female counterparts.