Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Alone after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Initial Cytology-Proven Axillary Node Metastasis

Purpose

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been recently used to downstage breast cancer. However, in patients with initial axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, ALN dissection regardless of the NAC response remains the standard treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after NAC in patients with ALN metastasis at diagnosis.

Methods

From January 2007 to August 2013, data of patients who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and ALN metastasis and treated with NAC followed by definitive surgery in two centers were collected retrospectively. A total of 386 patients were enrolled and classified into five groups according to surgical procedure for the ALNs and pathologic results.

Results

At SLNB after NAC, sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) that stained blue or were hot, including suspicious nodes, were identified; the SLN identification and false-negative rates was 96% and 10%, respectively. There was no difference in the overall survival among the groups. For patients who revealed a pathologic complete node response, there was a significant difference in the disease-free survival rate between the SLNB only and complete ALN dissection groups (p=0.031). However, the rate of axillary recurrence demonstrated no significant differences among the groups (p>0.050).

Conclusion

SLNB after NAC in breast cancer patients with initial ALN metastasis may help identify downstaging to negative nodal status and thereby reduce the surgical morbidity by avoiding standard ALN dissection.     

The Comparative Study of Ultrasonography,Contrast-Enhanced MRI,and 18F-FDG PET/CT for Detecting Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in T1 Breast Cancer

Purpose

A more noninvasive evaluation of axillary lymph node in breast cancer is one of the principal challenges of breast cancer treatment. To detect axillary lymph node metastasis (ALNM) in T1 breast cancer, we have compared the axillary ultrasonography (AUS), contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI), and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) to determine the most adequate test or a combination of tests.

Methods

Retrospectively, 349 T1 breast cancer patients who were preoperatively examined using AUS, cMRI, and PET/CT between 2008 and 2011 and whom underwent pathological evaluations of axillary lymph nodes were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

In total, 26.4% (92/349) of patients exhibited ALNM. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of AUS for determining ALNM were 44.6%, 88.7%, 58.6%, 81.7%, and 77.1%, respectively. cMRI was similar to AUS. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of PET/CT were 44.5%, 94.2%, 73.2%, 82.6%, and 81.1%, respectively. The combination including cMRI and PET/CT was the most accurate with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy values of 39.1%, 98.8%, 92.3%, 81.9%, and 83.1%, respectively. The mean number (3.5±4.2) of ALNMs in the patients who were positive based on cMRI and PET/CT and also pathologically proven to exhibit ALNM was significantly larger than the number (2.16±2.26) in other patients who exhibited ALNM (p=0.035).

Conclusion

There are no definitive modalities for detecting ALNM in T1 breast cancers to replace sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). If ALNM is suspected based on cMRI and PET/CT, the axillary dissection without SLNB might be a better option because it is related to high possibilities of ALNM and large axillary metastatic volumes.     

Reliability of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate and effective means of axillary nodal staging in early breast cancer. However its indication after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is under constant debate. The present study evaluates the reliability of SLNB in assessing axillary nodal status after NAC.

Methods

Data from 281 patients who had received NAC and subsequent SLNB were reviewed. The identification and false negative rates of SLNB were determined and the clinicopathologic factors associated with false negative results were investigated using univariate analysis.

Results

The identification rate of SLNB after NAC was 93.6% and the false negative rate was 10.4%. Hormone receptor status, especially progesterone receptor positivity, was significantly associated with false negative results. The accuracy of intraoperative frozen section examination of sentinel lymph nodes was 91.2%.

Conclusion

The identification rate of SLNB and the accuracy of intraoperative frozen section examination after NAC are comparable to the results without NAC in patients with early breast cancer. However considering the high false negative rates, general application of SLNB after NAC should be avoided. Patients with progesterone-positive tumors and non-triple-negative breast cancers may be a select group of patients in whom SLNB can be employed safely after NAC, but further studies are necessary.     

Treatment Outcome of Breast Cancer with Pathologically Proven Synchronous Ipsilateral Supraclavicular Lymph Node Metastases

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis, patterns of failure, and prognostic factors for breast cancer patients with pathologically proven synchronous ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node (ISCLN) metastases.

Methods

We reviewed the records of breast cancer patients with pathologically proven ISCLN metastases. Local aggressive treatment was defined as treatment including surgery, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), ISCLN excision, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy.

Results

A total of 111 patients were included. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 64.2% and 56.2%, respectively. On univariate analysis, RT, ALND, trastuzumab treatment, hormone receptor (HR) status, and local aggressive treatment were identified as significant factors for OS. The 5-year OS for 73 patients who received local aggressive treatment was superior to that of 38 patients who received nonaggressive treatment (70.9% vs. 49.3%, p=0.036). Multivariate analysis showed that RT, HR status, and trastuzumab were significant variables for the 5-year OS and DFS.

Conclusion

Multimodality treatment with surgery, taxane-based chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and RT is strongly recommended for breast cancer patients with synchronous ISCLN metastases.     

Clinical Significance of the Axillary Arch in Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Purpose

The axillary arch is an anomalous muscle that is not infrequently encountered during axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) of breast cancer patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate how often the axillary arch is found during SLNB and whether it affects the intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification rate.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the correlation between the presence of the axillary arch and the SLN sampling failure rate during SLNB in 1,069 patients who underwent axillary SLNB for invasive breast cancer.

Results

Of 1,069 patients who underwent SLNB, 79 patients (7.4%) had the axillary arch present. The SLNB failure rate was high when the patient''s body mass index was ≥25 (p=0.026), when a single SLN mapping technique was used (p=0.012), and when the axillary arch was present (p<0.001). These three factors were also found to be statistically significant by multivariate analysis, and of these three factors, presence of the axillary arch most significantly increased the SLNB failure rate (hazard ratio, 10.96; 95% confidence interval, 4.42-27.21; p<0.001). Additionally, if the axillary arch was present, the mean operative time of SLNB was 20.8 minutes, compared to 12.5 minutes when the axillary arch was not present (p<0.001). If the axillary arch was present, the SLN was often located in a high axillary region (67%) rather than in a general low axillary location.

Conclusion

The axillary arch was found to be a significant factor affecting intraoperative SLN failure rate. It is necessary to keep in mind that carefully checking the high axillar region during SLNB in breast cancer patients with the axillary arch is important for reducing SLN sampling failure.     

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sentinel lymph node biopsy compared with axillary node dissection in patients with early-stage breast cancer: a decision model analysis

Background:

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is less invasive than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for staging early breast cancer, and has a lower risk of arm lymphoedema and similar rates of locoregional recurrence up to 8 years. This study estimates the longer-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of SLNB.

Methods:

A Markov decision model was developed to estimate the incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs of an SLNB-based staging and management strategy compared with ALND over 20 years'' follow-up. The probability and quality-of-life weighting (utility) of outcomes were estimated from published data and population statistics. Costs were estimated from the perspective of the Australian health care system. The model was used to identify key factors affecting treatment decisions.

Results:

The SLNB was more effective and less costly than the ALND over 20 years, with 8 QALYs gained and $883 000 saved per 1000 patients. The SLNB was less effective when: SLNB false negative (FN) rate >13% 5-year incidence of axillary recurrence after an SLNB FN>19% risk of an SLNB-positive result >48% lymphoedema prevalence after ALND <14% or lymphoedema utility decrement <0.012.

Conclusion:

The long-term advantage of SLNB over ALND was modest and sensitive to variations in key assumptions, indicating a need for reliable information on lymphoedema incidence and disutility following SLNB. In addition to awaiting longer-term trial data, risk models to better identify patients at high risk of axillary metastasis will be valuable to inform decision-making.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients With Pathological Complete Response in the Axillary Lymph Node After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

PurposeSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains controversial in patients with breast cancer who are initially lymph node-positive. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) on breast cancer recurrence and survival in patients who converted from lymph node-positive to pathological node-negative (ypN0) after NAC.MethodsThis single-center retrospective study included 223 patients who converted to axillary lymph node-negative status after NAC and underwent breast and axillary surgery between January 2006 and December 2015. This study compared the overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), ipsilateral axillary lymph node recurrence rates and incidence of postoperative complications, especially, arm lymphedema and shoulder stiffness between SLNB and ALND.ResultsThis study included 223 patients with axillary pathological complete response (pCR) after NAC and surgery. The SLNB and ALND groups included 94 and 129 patients, respectively. The median follow-up time was 57 (range, 6–155) in the SLNB group and 99 (range 2–159) months in the ALND group. The corresponding 5-year OS and DFS rates were 96.3% and 94.2% (p = 0.392), and 89.2% and 86.4% (p = 0.671), respectively. Four patients (4.3%) in the SLNB group and nine (7.0%) in the ALND group developed locoregional recurrences. Ipsilateral axillary lymph node recurrence and distant metastasis were observed in one (1.1%) and three (2.3%) patients, and in 10 (10.6%) and 11 (8.5%) patients, respectively. Patients in the ALND group were more likely than their SLNB counterparts to experience complications, such as shoulder stiffness (9 [7.0%] vs. 4 [4.3%] patients, p = 0.57). The rate of lymphedema in the ALND group was three times that in the SLNB group (35 [27.1%] vs. 8 [8.5%] patients, p < 0.001).ConclusionAs an alternative to ALND, SLNB has oncological safety in patients with axillary pathological complete response after NAC.     

Impact of sentinel node biopsy on long-term quality of life in breast cancer patients

Background:

The aim of this study was to assess long-term quality of life (QoL) over a period of 6 years in women with breast cancer (BC) who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), or SLNB followed by ALND.

Methods:

The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ)-C30 and the EORTC-QLQ-BR-23 questionnaires were used to assess QoL before surgery, just after surgery, 6, 12 and 72 months later. The longitudinal effect of surgical modalities on QoL was assessed with a mixed model analysis of variance for repeated measurements.

Results:

Five hundred and eighteen BC patients were initially included. The median follow-up was 6 years. During the follow-up, 61 patients died. None of the patients of the SLNB group developed lymphedema during follow-up and the relapse rate was similar in the different groups (P=0.62). Before surgery, global health status (P=0.52) and arm symptoms (BRAS) (P=0.99) QoL scores were similar whatever the surgical procedure. The BRAS score (P=0.0001) was better in the SLNB group 72 months after surgery. Moreover, during follow-up, patients treated with SLNB had lower arm symptoms scores than ALND patients and there was no difference for arm symptoms between patients treated with ALND and those treated with SLNB followed by complementary ALND.

Conclusion:

Long-term follow-up showed that SLNB was associated with less morbidity than ALND.     

48例早期乳腺癌仅行前哨淋巴结活检术的疗效观察

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活检术（SLNB）替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术（ALND）在早期乳腺癌中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析我院行SLNB的48例早期乳腺癌患者的临床和病理资料,并与同期73例SLN阴性行ALND患者进行对比,比较两组患者的远期疗效及术后并发症情况。结果中位随访26月（2～40月）,SLNB组有1例患者于术后14月出现同侧腋窝淋巴结复发,ALND组有1例患者于术后33月出现同侧锁骨上淋巴结转移,两组淋巴结转移率分别为2.1%（1/48）和1.4%（1/73）,差异无统计学意义（P=1.000）;至随访结束,两组均未见远处转移及肿瘤所致死亡病例,总生存率均为100%。SLNB组和ALND组术后平均住院时间分别为5天（2~10天）和9天(5~16天)（P=0.004）,手术后6月时,两组患肢感觉异常发生率分别为4.2%（2/48）和71.2%(52/73)（P=0.000）,患肢水肿发生率分别为0和13.7%(10/73) （P=0.003）,差异均具有统计学意义。结论在SLN阴性早期乳腺癌中,仅行SLNB腋窝淋巴结复发率低,SLNB可以与取得ALND相同的疗效;同时,SLNB与ALND相比手术创伤小,术后并发症少。     

Histologic Grade and Decrease in Tumor Dimensions Affect Axillary Lymph Node Status after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

Purpose

The purposes our study was to find out any histologic factors associated with negative conversion of axillary lymph node (ALN) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We also evaluated the association between the decrease in size of primary breast tumor and negative conversion of ALN.

Methods

From January 2012 to November 2014, we included 133 breast cancer patients who underwent NAC and who had ALN metastases which were confirmed on fine-needle aspiration or core needle biopsy at initial diagnosis. All 133 patients underwent initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of diagnosis and preoperative MRI after completion of NAC. We measured the longest dimension of primary breast cancer on MRI.

Results

Of 133 patients, 39 patients (29%) showed negative conversion of ALN and of these 39 patients, 25 patients (64%) showed pathologic complete remission of primary breast. On univariate analysis, mean percent decrease in longest dimension, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status and histologic grade were significantly associated with the ALN status after NAC (p<0.001, p=0.001, p< 0.001, p=0.001, p=0.002, respectively). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, percent decrease in longest dimension (odds ratio, 1.026; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.009-1.044) and histologic grade (odds ratio, 3.964; 95% CI, 1.151-13.657) were identified as being independently associated with the ALN status after NAC. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.835 with the best cutoff value of 80% decrease in longest dimension. Combination of high histologic grade and more than 80% decrease in longest dimension showed 64% sensitivity and 92% specificity.

Conclusion

High histologic grade and more than 80% decrease in primary tumor dimension were associated with negative conversion of ALN after NAC.     

早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检在简化腋清扫中的应用研究

[目的]探讨早期乳腺癌患者行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）为阴性,行简化腋窝淋巴结清扫替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术（ALND）的临床效果。[方法]采用1%亚甲蓝染色法对65例早期乳腺癌患者行SLNB,60例成功行SLNB,其中40例SLN无转移者行简化腋窝淋巴结清扫术（简化组）;20例SLN有转移者行ALND（标准组）,比较两组患者术后上肢并发症的发生情况、腋窝复发及全身转移情况。[结果]简化组手术时间和腋窝引流时间比标准组明显缩短,有统计学差异（P〈0.01）;简化组术后患侧上肢的疼痛、肿胀、麻木症状明显较标准组少（P〈0.01）。两组生存曲线没有差异。[结论]亚甲蓝染色法能够比较准确地定位乳腺癌的前哨淋巴结。简化ALND替代ALND手术时间和术后引流时间缩短,方便可行,并发症明显减少,腋窝复发率低,是早期乳腺癌患者的安全分期手术。     

早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检替代腋窝淋巴结清扫的临床应用研究

目的 对前哨淋巴结活检(sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB)替代腋窝淋巴结清扫(axillary lymph node dis-section,ALND)在早期乳腺癌患者中的应用以及安全性研究及探讨.方法 回顾性分析行SLNB和ALND手术的503例早期乳腺癌病例,对患者住院时间、拔管时间及住院费用进行对比,以及对患者上肢并发症、腋窝局部复发及远处转移情况进行随访,随访至2016年06月,中位随访时间为32(6 ～52)个月.结果 在住院时间、拔管时间、住院费用以及上肢并发症方面,SLNB组明显优于ALND组,差异有统计学意义,而在腋窝局部复发及远处转移情况方面两组无统计学意义.结论 在SLN阴性早期乳腺癌中,SLNB与ALND可以取得相同的疗效,而且,SLNB与ALND相比,手术创伤小,麻木疼痛、肩关节活动受限等术后并发症明显减少,且可缩短患者住院时间,减轻患者的经济负担.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy predicts pathological axillary lymph node status in breast cancer patients with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes at presentation

Background

It is still controversial whether axillary lymph node (ALN) dissection (ALND) can be omitted after negative sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer (BC) patients with clinically positive ALNs at presentation treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). The study aim was to analyze whether SLNB could be useful in these patients.

Methods

In a retrospective study, eligible patients were women with invasive BC with clinically positive ALNs at presentation, treated with NAC then a total or partial mastectomy, with an intraoperative histological examination of SLNs and non-SLNs suspicious for metastasis followed by ALND. Non-SLNs suspicious for metastasis were defined as hard or large nodes located in the same level of the axilla where clinically positive ALNs had been initially identified. The results of SLNB and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed for correlation with pathological ALN status.

Results

In a consecutive series of 105 women with 107 BC cases, 81 (75.7 %) had at least 1 SLN, and the remaining 26 (24.3 %) had at least 1 non-SLN suspicious for metastasis. The intraoperative (or final) histological examination of these nodes revealed that the false-negative (FN) rate and accuracy were 8.2 (or 6.3) % and 95.1 (or 96.3) %, respectively. Estrogen receptor status at presentation, pathological tumor response, lymphovascular invasion after NAC, and NAC regimen were correlated with pathological ALN status.

Conclusion

The histological examination of SLNs and that of non-SLNs suspicious for metastasis are useful for predicting pathological ALN status in BC patients with clinically positive ALNs at presentation who are treated with NAC.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after previous axillary surgery: A review

Background

The utility of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the management of breast cancer is currently under close scrutiny. At primary diagnosis the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has restricted ALND for proven nodal disease, however the management of the axilla at local (in-breast) relapse is less clearly defined with many undergoing routine ALND. This review examines the role of SLNB in the re-operative setting with the objective of developing an axillary management algorithm for use at in-breast local relapse, and restricting ALND to node-positive recurrent cancers.

Methods

We reviewed published reports of SLNB at local relapse in women who had previously undergone axillary surgery either as lymph node biopsy, SLNB, axillary sampling (AS) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Results

There have been no randomised trials. Six reports with 327 cases were identified; of which 61% (199/327) had previous SLNB or ALND with <9 nodes removed. There was an overall successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) localisation at re-operation of 69% (227/327), range of 51-100%. In patients who have previously had limited axillary surgery (<9 nodes removed), the rate of successful SLN localisation was 83% (165/199), range of 68-100% and 142/165 (86%, range 80-100%) were node negative. In these highly selected patients no axillary recurrences were noted in those who had a negative SLN at re-operation after 26-46 months follow up.

Conclusion

SLNB at in-breast relapse is feasible and safe with successful localisation related to the extent of previous axillary surgery.     

Time to deterioration in quality of life score as a modality of longitudinal analysis in patients with breast cancer

Purpose.

This prospective multicenter study explored different definitions of time to deterioration (TTD) in quality of life (QoL) scores, according to different cutoffs of the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) as a modality for longitudinal QoL assessment in breast cancer patients.

Methods.

QoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire C30 and BR-23 before surgery, after surgery, and 6 and 12 months later. The global health score, arm symptoms score (BRAS), and breast symptoms score were analyzed. For a given baseline score, QoL was considered to have deteriorated if this score decreased by ≥5 points at any time point after baseline. Analyses were repeated using an MCID of 10 points and taking the score after surgery as the reference score (to explore the occurrence of response shift). TTD was calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression was used to identify independent factors associated with TTD.

Results.

Two hundred thirty-five patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), 222 underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), and 61 underwent SLNB plus ALND. Patients who underwent SLNB had a significantly longer TTD for the BRAS dimension than those who underwent ALND. Cox multivariate analyses showed that treatment using SLNB and age >59 years were independently associated with longer TTD for the BRAS, whereas surgery elsewhere than at the Centre Georges François Leclerc was associated with a shorter TTD.

Conclusion.

Exploration of different definitions of TTD in QoL provides meaningful longitudinal QoL results for clinicians.     

Tumor Characteristics Influencing Non-Sentinel Lymph Node Involvement in Clinically Node Negative Patients with Breast Cancer

Purpose

The negative sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy avoids conventional axillary dissection in patients with breast cancer with clinically negative axilla. Despite negative SLN, there is a risk of leaving involved non-SLN behind in the axilla. We investigated the predictive power of tumor characteristics for non-SLN metastasis.

Methods

Lymphatic mapping with blue dye method for SLN biopsy and level 1-2 axillary dissections were performed to establish axillary status in 59 patients with T1 and T2 breast cancer and clinically negative axilla. Tumor''s characteristics were histopathologically established to assess their association with non-SLN metastasis.

Results

The axilla was malignant in 23 (39%) patients. The SLN alone was metastatic in 10, both SLN and non-SLN in 9, and non-SLN alone in 4 (7%) patients. The false negative rate for SLN biopsy was 10% in our series. The rate of positive non-SLN was found as 0% in T1a-b, 19% in T1c, and 40% in T2 tumors (p=0.035). Lymphovascular invasion was positive in 14 (61%) patients with axillary metastasis (p<0.001), and in 10 (77%) patients with non-SLN involvement (p<0.001).

Conclusion

We concluded that there was a small risk of involved non-SLN despite negative SLN. Tumor size (near or greater than 2 cm) was significantly associated with non-SLN metastasis. Peritumoral lymphovascular invasion was a positive predictor of the metastatic involvement in non-SLNs.     

Prospective Feasibility Trial of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in the Setting of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Background

Most inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients have axillary disease at presentation. Current standard is axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Advances in NACT have improved pathologic complete response (pCR) rates increasing interest in performing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy (SLNB). Previous studies on SLNB for IBC patients did not assess nodal response with imaging or use dual tracer mapping. We sought to prospectively determine false negative rates of SLNB in IBC patients using dual tracer mapping, and to correlate pathology with preoperative axillary imaging.

核素标记法联合亚甲蓝在早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检中的应用价值

[目的]探讨核素标记法联合亚甲蓝在早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检中的临床应用价值。[方法]对65例临床确诊的早期乳腺癌患者联合应用99mTc-硫胶体和亚甲蓝标记法进行前哨淋巴结活检,并行腋淋巴结清扫术。[结果]前哨淋巴结活检成功率为100.00%,准确率98.46%,假阴性率6.25%。[结论]核素标记和亚甲蓝联合定位法在前哨淋巴结活检中具有明确的实用性,能有效预测早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状况。     

Sentinel Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Cytologically Proven Node-Positive Breast Cancer

IntroductionSeveral studies have assessed the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after NAC in patients with breast cancer, but diagnostic accuracy has varied. We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of SLNB in detecting axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases after NAC in patients with cytologically proven positive nodes before chemotherapy.Patients and MethodsWe studied 95 breast cancer patients with cytologically proven positive nodes and a partial or complete clinical response to NAC in the breast lesions confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging. Patients then underwent SLNB followed by ALN dissection. The identification rate of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and the false negative rate of nodal metastases were assessed. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to several clinical factors.ResultsSLNs were successfully identified in 81 (85.3%) of the 95 patients. Among these 81 patients, 51 (63.0%) had ALN metastases on final pathologic examination after NAC. Eight of the 51 patients with ALN metastases had negative results on SLNB (false negative rate, 15.7%). Univariate analysis indicated that the false negative rate was significantly lower only in the HER2-negative group (P = .003).ConclusionSLNB after NAC did not correctly predict the presence or absence of axillary node metastases in patients with breast cancer who had cytologically proven positive nodes before NAC. However, the diagnostic accuracy might be different in cancer subtypes, therapeutic effect of chemotherapy, or sentinel lymph node status after chemotherapy. Well-powered studies are needed to confirm diagnostic accuracy of SLNB after NAC according to subgroup in patients with breast cancer.     

乳腺癌新辅助化疗后前哨淋巴结活检的临床意义

目的探讨新辅助化疗后乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检的可行性。方法对57例行^99Tc联合亚甲蓝示踪前哨淋巴结活检术和腋窝淋巴结清扫术乳腺癌患者的资料进行分析,其中31例ⅡB、Ⅲ期患者先行2～3个疗程新辅助化疗后再行前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫术,另26例Ⅰ、Ⅱ期患者直接行前哨淋巴结活检及腋窝淋巴结清扫术。结果新辅助化疗组和非新辅助化疗组平均腋窝淋巴结数、前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymph node,SLN）数、SLN检出率、SLN假阴性率均无显著差异（P均〉0．05）。新辅助化疗纽化疗前临床分期在N2以上者,SLN检出率均显著下降（P〈0．05）。结论新辅助化疗后前哨淋巴结活检能准确预测腋窝淋巴结的状况。化疗前的N分期是SLNB检出率的影响因素。