Which Treatment When?

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is rapidly emerging as an alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for many female breast cancer patients. In contrast, ALND remains the standard of care for male breast cancer patients with similar tumors. We evaluated the results of SLN biopsy in male breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillae. This study included all male breast cancer patients who underwent SLN biopsy at our institution between October 1999 and 2000. All patients had negative axillae on clinical examination and sonography. All patients underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy followed by SLN biopsy performed using a combination of isosulfan blue dye and technetium Tc 99m sulfur colloid. Tc 99m sulfur colloid was injected at a dose of 2.5 mCi 24 h before surgery (four patients) or 0.5 mCi 2–4 h before surgery (three patients). Intraoperatively, 5 ml of 1% isosulfan blue was injected adjacent to the breast tumor or biopsy cavity prior to SLN biopsy. A gamma probe was used intraoperatively in order to localize SLNs. Any node that was blue or associated with ex vivo radioactivity counts at least 10 times higher than the axillary background counts was defined as a SLN. SLNs were assessed intraoperatively using touch preparation cytologic examination. Completion ALND was performed if nodal metastases were identified. Seven patients, 44–76 years of age, were included in the study. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy identified SLNs in five patients. Intraoperatively, SLNs were identified in all seven patients. SLNs were identified in six patients using the gamma probe and in all seven patients using blue dye. The mean number of SLNs encountered was 2.9. Findings on touch preparation cytology correlated with findings on the final pathological analysis examination in all patients. One patient had a positive SLN, this patient had three additional positive nodes identified in his completion ALND specimen. Three patients with negative SLNs had been elected preoperatively to undergo ALND regardless of findings on SLN biopsy, no positive lymph nodes were identified in the ALND specimens from these patients. These findings compare favorably with findings reported in the literature regarding SLN biopsy in female breast cancer patients. Blue dye injection and radioisotope injection were complementary. SLN biopsy should be considered for axillary staging in male breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillae.     

Dye- and gamma probe-guided sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: using patent blue dye and technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a promising method for the diagnosis of the axillary nodal status. We examined the availability of the SLN biopsy using two mapping procedures: the dye- and gamma probe-guided method, and preoperative lymphoscintigraphy by gamma camera imaging. METHODS: We enrolled 48 patients with breast cancer. Technetium-99m-labeled human serum albumin was injected into the subdermal tissue above the primary tumor or biopsy cavity, and preoperative gamma camera imaging was performed. After induction of general anesthesia, patent blue dye was injected into the peritumoral area prior to the surgical procedure. A handheld gamma-detection probe was used to assist in SLN detection. Careful dissection was performed to identify blue-stained afferent lymphatic vessels and nodes. An SLN was defined as any blue and/or radioactive node, and was excised. After SLN biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection of level I, II, and III was completed, in order to confirm the diagnostic ability of the SLN biopsy. RESULTS: Intraoperative SLN identification of axillary lesions was successful in 43 of 48 patients (90%). The dye- and gamma probe-guided method was successful in 25 patients (52%), the dye-guided method alone succeeded in 11 patients (23%), and the gamma probe-guided method alone succeeded in 7 patients (15%). Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy revealed axillary focal accumulations in 29 of 48 patients (60%). All patients who underwent successful preoperative SLN identification by lymphoscintigraphy had successful intraoperative SLN identification. A diagnostic accuracy of 95%, a sensitivity of 89%, and a specificity of 100% were achieved in the diagnosis of axillary metastasis. Internal mammary SLNs were identified in four patients intraoperatively, but we could not detect cancer metastasis in the internal mammary SLNs. CONCLUSIONS: The dye-guided and gamma probe-guided methods were complementary. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy was useful to predict intraoperative SLN identification. Further study is necessary to assess the role of SLN biopsy of the internal mammary lymph nodes.     

Sentinel node detection in breast carcinoma

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The standard procedure for the evaluation of axillary nodal involvement in patients with breast cancer is still complete lymph node dissection. However, about 70% of patients are found to be free of metastatic disease while axillary node dissection may cause significant morbidity. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy are changing this situation. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In a period of 18 months we studied 201 patients with breast cancer, excluding patients with palpable axillary nodes, tumors > 2.5 cm in diameter, multifocal or multicentric cancer, pregnant patients and patients over 80 years of age. Before surgery 99mTc-labeled colloid and vital blue dye were injected into the breast to identify the SLN. In lymph nodes dissected during surgery the metastatic status was examined by sections at reduced intervals. Only patients with SLNs that were histologically positive for metastases underwent axillary dissection. RESULTS: We localized one or more SLNs in 194 of 201 (96.5%) patients; when both techniques were utilized the success rate was 100%. Histologically, 21% of patient showed SLN metastases (7.8% micrometastases) and 68% of these had metastases also in other axillary nodes. None of the patients with negative SLNs developed metastases during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: At present there is no definite evidence that negative SLN biopsy is invariably correlated with negative axillary status; however, our study and those of others demonstrate that SLN biopsy is an accurate method of axillary staging.     

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the patients with breast cancer

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is always standard part for a variety of surgical treatments of breast cancer. Knowledge of the status of axillary nodes presents important information for staging and prognosis, but it remains controversial that ALND provides local control of disease and offer survivalbenefit. Some authors have questioned the wisdom of continuing to do ALND, when the risk of axillary metastasis in the early case is small, and the postoperative complications are usuall…     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检40例报告

目的 :通过对乳腺癌前哨淋巴结 (SLN)活检 ,探讨其对腋淋巴结转移情况预测的准确性。方法 :采用亚甲蓝染料法对 4 0例乳腺癌行腋窝蓝染淋巴结活检 ,后行常规腋窝淋巴结清除 (ALND) ,两标本均送病理检查。结果 :全组 4 0例患者检出SLN 38例 ,2例未找到SLN ,检出率为 95 % ( 38/ 4 0 ) ,有 8例SLN为阳性 ,1例SLN为假阴性 ,腋窝淋巴结 (ALN)有 9例转移 ,SLN与ALN病理检查完全符合者 37例 ,准确率为 92 5 % ( 37/ 38) ;灵敏度为 88 9% ( 8/ 9) ;假阴性率为 11 1% ( 1/ 9)。结论 :亚甲蓝染色法能准确地鉴别SLN及预测乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结状态     

早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结示踪和定位的临床研究

背景与目的:目前乳腺癌手术都常规行腋窝淋巴结清扫(axillarylymphnodedissection,ALND)。对早期乳腺癌行ALND能否提高患者的生存率尚有争论,但其带来的并发症却明确。对早期乳腺癌能否用前哨淋巴结活检(sentinellymphnodebiopsy,SLNB)来代替ALND是目前国际研究的热点。本研究旨在探讨用不同的方法示踪和定位行乳腺癌SLNB的可行性及其临床意义,并探索多层切片加免疫组化技术对判断前哨淋巴结(sentinellymphnode,SLN)微转移灶的意义。方法:对121例早期乳腺癌患者行SLN示踪活检,其中美蓝法38例,单纯用美蓝标记;联合法83例,用美蓝和99mTc-SC同时标记。术后将SLN和所有常规ALND的淋巴结作常规病理检查,对阴性的SLN作3层切片加免疫组化检查,以检测淋巴结的微转移灶。结果:美蓝组和联合组活检的成功率分别为81.6%和95.2%;对腋窝淋巴结状况预测的准确率分别为93.5%和97.5%。淋巴结闪烁成像(lymphoscintigraphy,LS)和手持式γ-探头术前定位SLN的成功率分别为23%和92%(P<0.05)。本组194枚常规病理检查阴性的SLN,后经3层切片加免疫组化检查,发现13例21枚(11%)SLN含微转移灶。再用联合法检查对腋窝淋巴结预测的准确率上升为98.7%;假阴性率下降为3.2%。结论:美蓝法和联合法行SLNB均能准确地反映腋窝淋巴结状况,但联合法相对较好。LS对SLNB的意义尚待进一步探讨。多层切片加免疫组化检查能提高SLN微转移灶的发现率。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer--experience with the combined use of dye and radioactive tracer at Aarhus University Hospital

One hundred and twenty-four patients with palpable tumours underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and subsequent axillary lymph node dissection. Ultrasound of the axilla was used as part of the diagnostic work-up on all patients and those with lymph node metastasis verified by fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were not included. For identifying the SLNs, a combination of Tc-99m-labelled human albumin (Solco-ALBU-RES) and blue dye (Patent Blue V) was used. No lymphoscintigraphy was performed. The SLN was successfully identified in 122 out of 124 (98%) patients and 66 (54%) patients were found to have metastatic involvement of the axillary lymph nodes. In 52 (79%) of these patients, the SLNs were the only nodes involved, 28 (54%) had micrometastasis only. The false-negative rate was 1.5%. This method has proven valid in the staging of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. The advanced techniques of serial sectioning and immunohistochemical staining further improve the diagnostic advantage offered by the SLNB, as it increases the possibility of diagnosing micrometastatic deposits.     

Predictors of non-sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients

In many patients, the sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the sole site of regional nodal metastasis. This subgroup of patients would not be expected to benefit from completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND). This study evaluated the factors that may determine the likelihood of additional positive nodes in the axilla in the presence of sentinel node metastasis. A total of 618 breast cancer patients underwent SLN biopsy based on lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe detection, and blue dye mapping using 99mTc-nanocolloid and Patent Blue V injected peritumourally. This was followed by standard axillary node clearance at the same operation. Of the 201 patients with a positive SLN, 105 (52%) patients had no further positive nodes in the axilla, 96 (48%) patients had additional metastasis in non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) upon CALND. In patients with a positive SLN, increasing tumour size and tumour grade significantly increased the frequency of additional positive nodes on univariate analysis. The number of SLNs removed and the number of negative SLNs were significant negative predictors. Increasing tumour burden in the sentinel nodes (determined by the number of positive SLNs) was significantly associated with increasing likelihood of positive NSLNs. Multivariate analysis revealed that the rest of the axilla is more likely to be positive if there are more positive than negative SLNs removed and more likely to be negative otherwise. A group of cases from one centre (Cardiff) were subjected to further detailed analysis. Tumour burden in the positive SLN was assessed by measuring the size of metastasis, percentage replacement of the SLN by tumour and by documenting extracapsular extension (ECE) around the SLN. Of the 64 patients with a positive SLN, 34 (53%) patients had no further positive nodes in the axilla, 30 patients (47%) had additional metastasis in NSLNs upon CALND. Increasing tumour burden in the SLN was associated with additional positive nodes in the axilla. Multivariate analysis revealed that size of the SLN metastasis is the most important predictor of involvement of only the SLN. Overall, in patients with a positive SLN, the difference in the number of positive and negative SLNs removed and size of the metastasis in the SLN, all predicted the frequency of additional positive nodes.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in multicentric breast cancer. The experience of the European Institute of Oncology.

AIM: To present our experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) performed in patients with multicentric breast cancer. METHODS: Between May 2001 and May 2004, 42 patients with multicentric breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla underwent lymphatic mapping either by a single subareolar (n = 25) or a double peritumoral/subdermal injection (n = 17) of 99Tc-HSA nanocolloids. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) was evaluated by intraoperative frozen section and axillary dissection was performed only in case of positive SLN. RESULTS: Mean age was 49 years (range 25-78). Mean number of SLNs identified by lymphoscintigraphy was 1.36 (range 1-5) and mean number of SLNs removed at surgery was 1.55 (range 1-5), with an identification rate of 100%. The mean number of hot spots identified by lymphoscintigraphy was similar in patients who underwent single or double injections (1.36 and 1.35, respectively). In 21 of 42 patients the SLN was positive, and in seven of these 21 patients the SLN was the only positive node. After a median follow-up of 24 months no overt axillary metastases occurred in patients with negative SLN. CONCLUSIONS: The number of SLNs is not dependent on the number and site of injections. SLNB is our standard procedure for nodal staging in patients with multicentric breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla.     

术前淋巴显像在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检中的作用

目的探讨术前淋巴显像在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检（sentinel lymph node biopsy，SLNB）中的作用。方法回顾性分析了716例联合术前淋巴显像与术中1探测仪和蓝染料检测乳腺癌SLNB的结果。结果全组SLNB成功率98．2％（703／716），验证组SLNB的假阴性率16．0％（15／94）。淋巴显像共成功地确定出620例患者（86．6％）的前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymph node，SLN），并在36例患者（5．0％）中发现了腋窝以外的前哨淋巴结。淋巴显像确定SLN的失败率与原发肿瘤的部位、肿瘤的病理类型和注射同位素到显像的时间无显著相关性（均P〉0．05）。注射示踪剂前已进行肿瘤切除活检的患者，其淋巴显像成功率低于未行肿瘤切除活检者；淋巴结转移患者淋巴显像的成功率低于淋巴结阴性患者。术中确定SLN的成功率在术前淋巴显像成功组和失败组之间存在显著的统计学差异（99．5％ vs 91．0％，P〈0．01）。术前淋巴显像是否成功确定SLN与SLNB的假阴性率无显著相关性（P=0．731）。结论乳腺癌SLN术前淋巴显像可以预测术中SLNB的成功率，同时术前淋巴显像有助于确定腋窝以外的SLN，但术前淋巴显像并非乳腺癌SLNB所必需。     

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node harvesting in patients with recurrent breast cancer

AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility and consequences of lymphatic mapping and a ("repeat") sentinel lymph node (SLN) procedure in patients with breast cancer relapse after previous breast and axillary surgery. METHODS: Review and presentation of a patient cohort. All SLN procedures included lymphoscintigraphy and blue dye injection technique. RESULTS: Twelve cases are described: two patients after a previous SLN procedure and ten after a previous complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Ten patients (83%) had a successful repeat SLN biopsy. After previous ALND, lymphoscintigraphy revealed drainage towards the internal mammary chain in three patients, and contralateral axillary drainage in four. Based on the information from the "repeat" SLN biopsy further treatment strategy was altered in seven of the 12 patients. CONCLUSION: Lymphatic mapping and (repeat) SLN biopsy is possible and can be informative in patients who present with a relapse of breast cancer after previous surgery for primary breast cancer.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结定位和活检

目的：难证乳腺癌前哨淋巴结定位和活检技术的可行性和前哨淋巴结的组织状况能否准确预告腋淋巴结的状况。方法：本研究使用专利蓝,对３３例乳腺癌患者进行了术中及术后前哨淋巴结定位和活检术。结果：３０例（９１％）找到前哨淋巴结,前哨淋巴结预告腋淋巴结的准确率为９６．７％,假阴性１例。结论：本研究结果证实,乳腺癌前哨淋巴结定位和活检技术是可行的,前哨淋巴结的组织学特征能够准确反映腑淋巴结的状况。我们相信在将来     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is accurate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has proved to be an accurate method for detecting nodal micrometastases in previously untreated patients with early-stage breast cancer. We investigated the accuracy of this technique for patients with more advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with stage II or III breast cancer who had undergone doxorubicin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy before breast surgery were eligible. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping was performed with peritumoral injections of blue dye alone or in combination with technetium-labeled sulfur colloid. All patients were offered axillary lymph node dissection. Negative sentinel and axillary nodes were subjected to additional processing with serial step sectioning and immunohistochemical staining with an anticytokeratin antibody to detect micrometastases. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients underwent SLN biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy from 1994 to 1999. The SLN identification rate improved from 64.7% to 94.1%. Twenty-two (51.2%) of the 43 successfully mapped patients had positive SLNs, and in 10 of those 22 patients (45.5%), the SLN was the only positive node. Three patients had false-negative SLN biopsy; that is, the sentinel node was negative, but at least one nonsentinel node contained metastases. Additional processing revealed occult micrometastases in four patients (three in sentinel nodes and one in a nonsentinel node). CONCLUSION: SLN biopsy is accurate after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The SLN identification improved with experience. False-negative findings occurred at a low rate throughout the series. This technique is a potential way to guide the axillary treatment of patients who are clinically node negative after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检的临床意义(附30例报告)

目的　探讨开展乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检 (sentinellymphnodebiopsy ,SLNB)的必要性、可行性、准确性及临床应用价值。方法　术前在乳腺肿瘤下方注射 37MBq放射性胶体99mTc DX ,同时运用核素淋巴显像和γ计数器探测仪探测两种检测方法 ,识别出放射性同位素浓聚的前哨淋巴结(sentinellymphnode ,SLN) ,并用皮肤墨水在相应的皮肤上做出标记。术中根据体表标记切除SLN ,后行腋窝淋巴结解剖 (axilarylymphnodedissection ,ALND) ,两标本同时送病理检查 ,了解其符合率 ,并评价SLNB的可行性。结果　 30例均进行了SLN识别定位 ,活检后经病理检查有 2例错误。 1例未取到SLN ,故SLN的检出率为 96 .7% ;1例SLN病理呈假阴性。按目前国外SLNB的评价标准 ,本组SLNB的敏感度为 88.9% ,准确性为 93.3% ,假阳性率为 0 ,假阴性率为 11.1%。结论　乳腺癌SLNB目前在国内外仍处于研究阶段 ,随着研究的扩大与深入将可能取代常规的ALND。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer patients.

The concept of sentinel node biopsy has been validated for female breast cancer patients whereas, ALND remains the standard of care for male breast cancer patients with similar tumours. We evaluated the results of SLN biopsy in male breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillae. This study included all male breast cancer patients who underwent SLN biopsy between February 1998 and October 2003. All patients had negative axillae on clinical examination. All patients underwent pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy. SLN biopsy was performed using a combination of Patent blue V and 99mTc-radiolabelled colloidal albumin injected peritumourally. Nine patients, 26-79 years of age, were included in the study. Pre-operative lymphoscinitgraphy identified SLNs in all patients. Intraoperatively, SLNs were successfully localised in all patients. The mean number of SLNs encountered was 2.4. Five patients had a positive SLN, four a negative SLN. Five patients (one with a negative SLN, four with a positive SLN) had been elected pre-operatively to undergo ALND regardless of findings on SLN biopsy. ALND confirmed the SLN to be negative in one patient (false-negative rate: 0%) and three of the four patients with positive SLN(s) had additional positive nodes in the axilla. SLN biopsy accurately predicted axillary lymph node status in these five patients. These findings compare favourably with findings reported in the literature regarding SLN biopsy in female breast cancer patients. SLN biopsy accurately staged the axilla in male breast cancer patients and should be considered for axillary staging in male breast cancer patients with clinically negative axillae.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate method for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the feasibility of SLNB in breast cancer patients who had received preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with advanced breast cancer stage II or III who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification and biopsy was attempted and performed, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in the same surgical procedure after SLNB. The histopathologic examination of the SLNs and the dissected axillary lymph nodes was performed and nodal status was compared. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in the study. After peritumoural injection of technetium-99m labelled human albumin and subareolar subcutaneous injection of blue dye, the SLNs could be identified in 26/30 patients (identification rate 86.7%). In 4/30 patients (13.3%) SLNs could not be identified. In 25/26 patients (96.2%) SLNs accurately predicted the axillary status. Eleven patients had negative SLNs and negative nodes in ALND. Six patients had positive SLNs and positive nodes in ALND. In eight patients SLNs only were positive and nodes in ALND were negative. One patient had a false-negative SLNB, calculating a false-negative rate of 6.7% (1/15). CONCLUSIONS: SLNB is a well introduced technique for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer. The accuracy of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is similar to patients with primary surgery. SLNB could be an alternative to ALND in a subgroup of patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and therefore could reduce morbidity due to surgery in those patients. Due to small numbers of patients, further evaluation in this subset of patients is required.     

新型前哨淋巴结显像剂在乳腺癌中的初步应用

目的 研究新型特异性前哨淋巴结（SLN）显像剂99m^Tc-Rituximab的定位效应,探讨有效、易行的SLN定位方法。方法 采用直接法将99m^Tc引入Rituximab分子中,作为示踪剂。对10只Balb／c小鼠和10例乳腺癌患者行SLN动态显像,应用计算机软件行图像融合,评价99m^Tc-Rituximab的定位性能。利用感兴趣区（ROI）技术计算SLN与组织本底的比值、SLN摄取率,绘制SLN摄取99m^Tc-Rituximab的动态曲线。另外61例乳腺癌患者行常规乳腺癌SLN显像。71例患者均行腋窝前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）及腋窝淋巴结清扫（ALND）,SLN及腋窝淋巴结行常规HE染色。结果 99m^Tc-Pdtuximab标记率〉95．0％,可清晰定位小鼠和乳腺癌患者的SLN。融合图像能清晰显示SLN大体位置。动态显像结果显示,注射显像剂后10min到16 h SLN均可显影,以6h最佳,未见次级淋巴结显影。小鼠SLN与组织本底的比值为2．1,SLN摄取率约为3．0％～3．5％,摄取曲线方程为y=0．036x＋2．7875,r^2=0．9787。乳腺癌患者SLN摄取率存在个体差异,但均符合对数函数分布。SLNB的成功率、敏感度及准确性均为100．0％。每例患者检出SLN平均为2．6枚。SLN转移阳性19例（26．8％）,其中11例患者仅有SIN转移。结论 99m^Tc-Rituximab的SLN定位性能良好,无次级淋巴结显影及手术时间受限等问题。图像融合技术简单易行,利于指导SLNB进行。     

核素淋巴显像识别前哨淋巴结在乳腺癌治疗中的应用

目的评价核素淋巴显像和γ探针定位在乳腺癌中确定前哨淋巴结(SLN)的应用价值,验证前哨淋巴结活检替代腋窝淋巴结清除术用于乳腺癌治疗的安全性与价值。方法选择1999年6月至2009年11月本院住院的女性乳腺癌患者206例(体检时腋窝均未扪及肿块),应用99Tcm-DX37～74 MBq或99Tcm-SC74 MBq经皮下注射,行核素淋巴显像后,术中注射专利兰1 ml和(或)术中用γ探针定位并行前哨淋巴结活检,与术中冰冻病理检查结果对照。若术中冰冻发现有前哨淋巴结转移,则行腋窝淋巴结清除术,若前哨淋巴结阴性,则不做腋窝淋巴结清除,术后定期随访。结果 206例乳腺癌术中成功活检SLN204例,成功率为99.0%(204/206)。本组有64例仅行SLN切除,术后病理检查证实64例SLN均阴性,故未行腋窝淋巴结清除,其中仅1例于术后1年时出现腋窝淋巴结转移,其余63例患者在随访期间均未发现腋窝淋巴结转移,也未出现同侧上肢水肿、感觉及活动异常;另140例行腋窝淋巴结清除,其中6例经病理证实SLN阳性但腋窝淋巴结为阴性,134例经病理证实SLN阳性35例,阴性99例,腋窝淋巴结阳性37例,阴性97例。核素淋巴显像和γ探针定位法的灵敏度为94.6%(35/37例),准确率为98.5%(138/140),假阴性为5.4%(2/37)。结论核素淋巴显像和γ探针定位应用于乳腺癌是切实可行和可能的,对预测腋窝淋巴结转移有很大的临床实用价值。如技术方法规范,早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检则能取代常规的腋窝淋巴结清除术,乳腺癌手术上肢并发症的发生率可大大降低。     

Preoperative dynamic lymphoscintigraphy predicts sentinel lymph node metastasis in patients with early breast cancer

Background

Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is commonly used in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for patients with early breast cancer; however, its significance to predict SLN metastasis remains to be determined.

Patients and methods

Sixty patients were enrolled in a feasibility study of SLNB. Patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer were eligible for this study. Dynamic lymphoscintigraphy was performed before SLNB. All patients underwent SLNB followed by axillary lymph node dissection.

Results

A dual mapping procedure using isotope and dye injections was performed. SLNs were identified in 59 of 60 patients (98.3%), with a node-positive rate of 41.7% and a false-negative rate of 1.7%. No SLN was identified in 4 of 60 patients (6.7%) on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Interestingly, abnormal accumulation of the radiotracer close to hot spots was observed in 29 of 56 patients (51.8%). Lymph node metastases were detected in 18 of 29 patients (62.0%) with this pattern and 5 of 27 patients (18.5%) without this pattern (P < 0.05). Micrometastases were more frequently detected in node-positive patients without this pattern than in those with this pattern (80 vs. 16.7%). Diagnostic parameters of this pattern to predict SLN metastases, including micrometastases, were 62.1% for sensitivity, 81.5% for specificity, and 71.4% for accuracy.

Conclusions

Abnormal accumulation of the radiotracer close to radioactive spots may indicate SLN metastasis. When dynamic lymphoscintigraphy shows this pattern, surgeons should consider the presence of SLN metastasis and carefully remove additional lymph nodes surrounding radioactive lymph nodes so as not to leave metastatic SLNs behind.     

Second echelon node predicts metastatic involvement of additional axillary nodes following sentinel node biopsy in early breast cancer

BACKGROUND: In many patients with early breast cancer, the sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the sole site of regional nodal metastasis. This subgroup of patients may not benefit from completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND). AIMS: This pilot study evaluates the status of 2nd echelon (station) lymph nodes in the axilla as a predictor of additional positive nodes in the axilla in the presence of sentinel node metastasis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of 40 breast cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with invasive breast cancer underwent SLN biopsy followed by 2nd echelon lymph node biopsy in the same sitting. SLN mapping was performed using a combined technique of isosulfan blue and 99 mTc-sulfur colloid. SLNs (Station I) were defined as blue and/or hot nodes. These nodes were then injected with 0.1 ml of blue dye using a fine needle and their efferent lymphatic was traced to identify the Station II nodes. Then a complete ALND was performed. All the specimens were sent separately for histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: SLNs (Station I nodes) were successfully identified in 98% (39/40) patients. Of the 17 patients with a positive SLN, 8 (47%) patients had no further positive nodes in the axilla, 9 (53%) patients had additional metastasis in nonsentinel lymph nodes upon CALND. Station II nodes were identified in 76% (13/17) patients with a positive SLN. Station II nodes accurately predicted the status of the remaining axilla in 92% patients (12/13). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: We calculated the Sensitivity, Negative predictive value, Positive predictive value, False negative rate and Identification rate. CONCLUSION: Station II nodes may predict metastatic involvement of additional nodes in the axilla.