Axillary recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy under local anesthesia in breast cancer

The procedure known as sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) under local anesthesia (LA) allows surgical teams to avoid the uncertainties of frozen tissue examination and to perform axillary dissection on patients who have been informed of the risks of lymph node invasion prior to the procedure.     

Recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy with or without axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: A regional nodal recurrence is a major concern after a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone in patients with breast cancer. In this study we investigated patterns and risk factors of regional nodal recurrence after SLNB alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1999 and March 2005, a series of 1,704 consecutive breast cancer cases in 1,670 patients (34 bilateral breast cancer cases) with clinically negative nodes or suspicious nodes for metastasis who underwent SLNB at a single institute (Saitama Cancer Center) were studied. All 1,704 cases were classified based upon presence or absence of a metastatic lymph node, treated with or without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The site of first recurrence was classified as local, regional node, or distant. The regional node recurrences were subclassified as axillary, interpectoral, infraclavicular, supraclavicular, or parasternal. RESULTS: After a median follow-up period of 34 months (range, 2-83 months), first recurrence occurred in local sites in 32 (1.9%) cases, regional nodes in 26 (1.5%) cases, and distant sites in 61 (3.6%) cases. In 1,062 cases with negative nodes treated without ALND and 459 cases with positive nodes treated with ALND, 11 (1.0%) and 15 (3.3%) recurred in regional nodes, respectively, and 4 (0.4%) and 2 (0.6%) recurred in axillary nodes, respectively. Of 822 cases of invasive breast cancer with negative nodes treated with SLNB alone, 10 (1.4%) recurred in regional nodes, and 4 (0.5%) recurred in axillary nodes. In the 10 patients with regional nodal failure, all of the tumors were negative for estrogen receptor (ER) and/or progesterone receptor (PR) and were nuclear grade (NG) 3. CONCLUSIONS: The axillary recurrence rate was low in patients treated with SLNB alone. Omitting ALND is concluded to be safe after adequate SLNB. Risk factors for regional nodal failure after SLNB alone are negative hormone receptor status and high NG.     

Population based study on sentinel node biopsy before or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in clinically node negative breast cancer patients: Identification rate and influence on axillary treatment

The timing of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) is controversial in clinically node negative patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). We studied variation in the timing of axillary staging in breast cancer patients who received NAC and the subsequent axillary treatment in The Netherlands.Patients diagnosed with clinically node negative primary breast cancer between 1st January 2010 and 30th June 2013 who received NAC and SNB were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Data on patient and tumour characteristics, axillary staging and treatment were analysed. Two groups were defined: (1) patients with SNB before NAC (N = 980) and (2) patients with SNB after NAC (N = 203).Eighty-three percent of patients underwent SNB before NAC, with large regional variation (35–99%). The SN identification rate differed for SNBs conducted before and after NAC (98% versus 95%; p = 0.032). A lower proportion of patients had a negative SNB when assessed before NAC compared to after (54% versus 67%; p = 0.001). The proportion of patients receiving any axillary treatment was higher for those with SNB before NAC than after (45% versus 33%; p = 0.006).In conclusion, variation exists in the timing of SNB in clinical practice in The Netherlands for clinically node negative breast cancer patients receiving NAC. The post-NAC SN procedure is, despite some lower SN identification rate, associated with a significantly less frequent axillary treatment and thus with less expected morbidity. The effect on recurrence rate is not yet clear. Patients in this registry will be followed prospectively for long-term outcome.     

Factors associated with involvement of four or more axillary nodes for sentinel lymph node-positive patients

PURPOSE: Sentinel lymph node-positive (SLN+) patients who are unlikely to have 4 or more involved axillary nodes might be treated with less extensive regional nodal radiation. The purpose of this study was to define possible predictors of having 4 or more involved axillary nodes. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The records of 224 patients with breast cancer and 1 to 3 involved SLNs, who underwent completion axillary dissection without neoadjuvant chemotherapy or hormonal therapy were reviewed. Factors associated with the presence of 4 or more involved axillary nodes (SLNs plus non-SLNs) were evaluated by Pearson chi-square test of association and by simple and multiple logistic-regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 224 patients, 42 had involvement of 4 or more axillary nodes. On univariate analysis, the presence of 4 or more involved axillary nodes was positively associated with increased tumor size, lobular histology, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), increased number of involved SLNs, decreased number of uninvolved SLNs, and increased size of SLN metastasis. On multivariate analysis, the presence of 4 or more involved axillary nodes was associated with LVSI, increased number of involved SLNs, increased size of SLN metastasis, and lobular histology. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with 1 or more involved SLN, LVSI, or SLN macrometastasis should be treated to the supraclavicular fossa/axillary apex if they do not undergo completion axillary dissection. Other SLN+ patients might be adequately treated with less extensive radiation fields.     

Axillary recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has almost totally replaced axillary lymph node dissection as the first-line axillary procedure for node-negative breast cancer. SLNB has a false-negative rate of 0–22%, and regional nodal recurrence is a major concern after SLNB. In this study, we assessed axillary recurrence and risk factors in breast cancer patients 40 months after negative SLNB. Methods Of 940 patients with node-negative breast cancer who underwent SLNB between December 2003 and January 2006 at Asan Medical Center, 720 were negative on SLNB, as determined using 99-m TC radiocolloid and subareolar injection technique. Of the 720 patients negative on SLNB, 174 underwent further axillary dissection, 253 underwent node sampling, and 293 received SLNB only. Results A mean of 2.1 SLNs was removed per patient. At a median follow-up of 40 months (range 24–49 months), recurrence in the axilla was observed in three patients, all of whom had undergone SLNB only; two of these patients also had recurrences in internal mammary lymph nodes. Tumors in all three patients were hormone-receptor negative, and two were c-erbb2 negative. Conclusion The axillary recurrence rate was low in patients negative on SLNB. Negative hormone-receptor status and high nuclear grade may be risk factors for regional nodal failure after SLNB.     

前哨淋巴结活检指导保留乳房手术患者行选择性腋窝淋巴结清除术的研究

目的研究通过前哨淋巴通道（SLC）行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）以指导保留乳房手术（breast—conservingtherapy,BCT）患者行选择性腋窝淋巴结清除术（ALND）的可行性。方法采用非随机对照研究,在BCT患者中采用联合示踪法通过SLC行SLNB。对术中检出的前哨淋巴结（SLN）行细胞印片和冰冻切片检查,根据SLN的术中病理结果行选择性ALND,其中SI。N阳性、行ALND者为A组,SI。N阴性仅行SLNB者为B组。定性资料的比较选用Y。检验,两组均数的比较采用t检验。结果2009年1月至2009年12月采用联合示踪法行SLNB的BCT患者共43例,检出42例,A组28例,B组14例。两组患者的SLC均被显影。每例患者被检出SLN1～3枚,平均1．4枚,共被检出59枚。SLNB检出率为97．7％（42／43）。术后病理检查共检出阳性SI,N29例,其中术中细胞印片、冰冻切片及二者联合病理检测分别检出阳性淋巴结27、27、28例。A组ALND相关并发症发生率明显高于B组（P=0．003）。结论通过SLC行SLNB有助于准确定位SLN,能够指导BCT患者行选择性ALND,降低术后并发症。     

Avoidance of axillary lymph node dissection in selected patients with node-positive breast cancer

Aims

Currently, it is standard practice to avoid ALND in patients with negative SLN, whereas this procedure is mandated for those with positive SLN. However, there has been some debate regarding the necessity of complete ALND in all patients with positive SLN. This review article discusses the issues related to eliminating the need for ALND in selected patients with positive nodes.

Methods

A review of the English language medical literature was performed using the MEDLINE database and cross-referencing major articles on the subject, focusing on the last 10 years.

Results

Currently, complete ALND is mandated in patients with SLN macrometastases as well as those with clinically positive nodes. It is not clear whether SLN biopsy is appropriate for axillary staging in patients with initially clinically positive nodes (N1) that become clinically node-negative (N0) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although there is debate regarding whether ALND should be performed in patients with micrometastases in the SLN, it seems premature to abandon ALND in clinical practice. Moreover, it remains unclear whether it is appropriate to avoid complete ALND in patients with ITC-positive SLN alone.

Conclusions

In the absence of data from randomised trials, the long-term impact of SLN biopsy alone on axillary recurrence and survival rate in patients with SLN micrometastases as well as those with ITC-positive SLN remains uncertain. These important issues must be determined by careful analysis of the results of ongoing clinical trials.     

Probability of axillary lymph node metastasis when sentinel lymph node biopsy is negative in women with clinically node negative breast cancer: a bayesian approach

BACKGROUND: Although sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)is highly accurate in predicting axillary nodal status in patients with breast cancer, it has been shown that the procedure is associated with a few false negative results. The risk of leaving metastatic nodes behind in the axillary basin when SLNB is negative should be estimated for an individual patient if SLNB is performed to avoid conventional axillary lymph node dissection(ALND). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 512 women with T1-3N0M0 breast cancer was conducted to derive a prevalence of nodal metastasis by T category as a pre-test(i.e., before SLNB)probability and to examine potential confounders on the relationship between T category and axillary nodal involvement. Probability of nodal metastasis when SLNB was negative was estimated by means of Bayes' theorem which incorporated the pre-test probability and sensitivity and specificity of SLNB. RESULTS: Axillary nodal metastasis was observed in 6.1% of T1a-b, 25.1% of T1c, 28.7% of T2, 35.0% of T3 tumors. Point estimates for the probability of nodal involvement when SLNB was negative ranged from 0.3-1.3% for T1a-b, 1.6-6.3% for T1c, 2.0-7.5% for T2, and 2.6-9.7% for T3 tumors with representative sensitivities of 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%, respectively. The risk may be higher when the tumor involves the upper outer quadrant of the breast, while it may be lower for an underweight woman. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of axillary lymph node metastasis when SLNB is negative can be estimated using a Bayesian approach. Presenting the probability to the patient may guide the decision of surgery without conventional ALND.     

Isolated retromammary lymph node metastasis of breast cancer without axillary lymph node involvement: a case report with a false-negative sentinel lymph node biopsy

A 54-year-old woman visited our hospital with a palpable tumor in her left breast, which was diagnosed as invasive ductal carcinoma. Breast-conserving surgery was performed, in association with a sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and back-up dissection of the axillary lymph nodes. One dyed axillary lymph node with high radioactivity was defined as an SLN, and intraoperative frozen-section analysis of the SLN was negative for metastasis. The final pathological diagnosis of the tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma, and one small lymph node, located in the retromammary space, just under the tumor, was positive for metastasis. The backup axillary lymph nodes were not metastatic. This patient was diagnosed false-negative by SLN biopsy, despite being positive for retroMLN metastasis. It should be recognized that retroMLNs are difficult to detect preoperatively, or intra-operatively, using dye or radiocolloid, if they are located in the post-tumoral retro-mammary space. RetroMLNs may be a pitfall in SLN biopsies.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy without axillary dissection after an intraoperative negative histological investigation in 358 invasive breast cancer cases

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an important treatment option for breast cancer patients, as it can accurately predict axillary status. Our previous study using dye with or without radioisotope showed the accuracy and sensitivity of SLNB to be 97% and 94%, respectively. Based on these results, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was eliminated starting in January, 1999 in patients with intraoperatively negative SLNB at our institution. The present study shows the results and outcomes of SLNB as a sole procedure for patients with invasive breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-hundred-fifty-four patients and 358 cases of invasive breast cancer (4 bilateral breast carcinoma) treated with SLNB alone after an intraoperative negative SLNB were studied prospectively from January 1999 to December 2001. RESULTS: The number of the identified SLNs per case ranged from 1 to 8 (mean, 2.5). Of a total of 358 cases, 297 (83%) were treated with hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy, and 281 (78%) were treated with radiotherapy to the conserved breast (50 Gy+/-10 Gy boost), the axilla (50 Gy), or the both sites. After a median follow-up of 21 (range 6-42) months, no patient developed an axillary relapse. Four cases initially recurred in distant organs and one case in the conserved breast. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that an intraoperative negative SLNB without further ALND may be a safe procedure when strict SLNB is performed. To better assess the safety, however, may require longer follow-up.     

Impact of completion axillary lymph node dissection in patients with breast cancer and isolated tumour cells or micrometastases in sentinel nodes

BackgroundOmission of completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is a standard practice in patients with breast cancer (BC) and negative sentinel nodes (SNs) but has shown insufficient evidence to be recommended in those with SN invasion.MethodsA retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients with BC and micrometastases (Mic) or isolated tumour cells (ITCs) in SN. Factors associated with ALND were identified, and patients with ALND were matched to patients without ALND. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were estimated in the overall population, in Mic and in ITC cohorts.FindingsAmong 2009 patients analysed, 1390 and 619 had Mic and ITC in SN, respectively. Factors significantly associated with ALND were SN status, histological type, age, number of SN harvested and absence of adjuvant chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 60.4 months, ALND omission was independently associated with reduced OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.41, 90 confidence interval [CI] 1.36–4.27, p = 0.0102), but not with increased RFS (HR 1.21, 90 CI 0.74–2.0, p = 0.52) in the overall population. In matched patients, the increased risk of death in case of ALND omission was found only in the Mic cohort (HR 2.88, 90 CI 1.46–5.69), not in the ITC cohort. The risk of recurrence was also significantly increased in the subgroup of matched Mic patients (HR 1.56, 90 CI 0.90–2.73).InterpretationA separate analysis of Mic and ITC groups, matched for the determinants of ALND, suggested that patients with Mic had increased recurrence rates and shorter OS when ALND was not performed. Our results are consistent with those of previous studies for patients with ITC but not for those with Mic. Randomised controlled clinical trials are still warranted to show with a high level of evidence if ALND can be safely omitted in patients with micrometastatic disease in SN.     

Sentinel node biopsy to avoid axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer

The role of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer has increased over the last few years. Sentinel nodes can predict the status of all axillary lymph nodes precisely and select patients with negative nodes for whom axillary dissection is unnecessary. Many problems remain, such as the ideal injection technique, ideal agents, and ideal histological detection of sentinel node metastases, and must be addressed before sentinel node biopsy becomes the standard of care for patients with breast cancer.     

前哨淋巴结活组织检查在早期乳腺癌局部切除术后的临床应用

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活组织检查(SLNB)在早期乳腺癌局部切除术后的临床应用价值。方法回顾性分析2012年3月至2018年11月在山西白求恩医院行SLNB的经肿物切除活组织检查确诊且临床分期为Tis/T1~2N0M0的93例乳腺癌患者,将成功检出前哨淋巴结(SLN)的患者分为SLN阳性组(转移)和SLN阴性组(无转移),通过临床病理资料分析乳腺肿物切除活组织检查后SLN转移及SLN检出数的影响因素。结果93例患者中87例成功检出SLN,检出率为93.5%(87/93),共检出SLN 255枚,每例患者平均检出2.93枚。均进行了术中快速冷冻,共检出11例SLN阳性患者。17例患者行腋窝淋巴结清扫(包括11例SLN阳性和6例SLN未检出患者),14例SLN术后石蜡病理证实为阳性,其中13例为宏转移,1例为微转移;SLN术中冷冻病理诊断的假阴性率为2.1%(3/14)。单因素分析结果显示,组织学分级、是否有脉管内癌栓与局部切除术后乳腺癌SLN转移有关;SLN检出数受体质量指数及染色方法的影响;美兰法联合核素法可提高SLN的检出率(均P<0.05)。多因素分析结果显示,肥胖患者SLN未检出是正常患者的2.651倍(95%CI 1.592~8.194,P=0.010)。结论对乳腺肿物切除术后早期乳腺癌患者采用适当示踪方法,行SLNB具有较高的检出率和临床应用价值。     

1~2枚腋窝前哨淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者非前哨淋巴结转移影响因素分析

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活组织检查(SLNB)后非前哨淋巴结(SLN)转移的影响因素。 方法回顾性分析2015年3月至2020年9月湖北省十堰市太和医院收治的837例双染料示踪法SLNB有1~2枚转移且行腋窝淋巴结清扫的乳腺癌患者资料,分为非SLN有转移组(54例)和无转移组(783例),采用χ²检验比较2组患者的肿瘤直径、病灶位置、脉管侵犯、病理类型、多发病灶、SLN转移灶类型、分子分型、ER、PR、HER-2、Ki-67等临床病理特征,采用秩和检验比较2组患者的组织学分级和SLN转移率。采用Logistic回归分析影响乳腺癌患者腋窝非SLN转移的危险因素。 结果2组患者的肿瘤直径、脉管侵犯、组织学分级、SLN转移率比较,差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝3.940、45.882,Z＝-2.225、-4.540,P＝0.047、<0.001、0.027、<0.001)。多因素分析结果显示：有脉管侵犯、SLN转移率≥50%且<100%和SLN转移率为100%均为影响非SLN转移的独立危险因素( OR ＝4.826,95%CI: 2.675~8.706,P <0.001;OR＝3.822,95%CI：1.538~9.501,P＝0.004;OR＝4.761,95%CI: 2.014~11.256,P<0.001)。 结论有脉管侵犯或SLN转移率≥50%的乳腺癌患者,非SLN转移的风险增加,应行腋窝淋巴结清扫术。     

Development of a predictive score of axillary lymph node dissection based on targeted axillary dissection in patients with breast cancer diagnosis,affected lymph nodes,and neoadjuvant treatment

AimTo determine predictive factors of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) results in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and subsequent staging using Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD).Material and methodCase-control study between January 2016 and August 2019. Patients with BC, cN1 staging, marked with a metallic clip prior to NACT, and subsequently staged with TAD and ALND were included. They were divided into 2 groups: ALND patients with or without metastatic involvement (group 1 and group 2, respectively). We carried out a univariate analysis comparing clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological variables, and a logistic regression, (dependent variable: positive result of ALND; independent variables: number of suspicious lymph nodes in diagnostic ultrasound, positive hormone receptors, HER2 positive, complete clinical-radiological response to NACT, positive TAD, and biopsy of ≤2 nodes in TAD). A score for prediction of a metastatic ALND was proposed, with an internal validation study.Results60 patients were included: Group 1: 33 (55.0%); Group 2: 27 (45.0%). Tumor size (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67; 95%CI 1.02–2.74), number of suspected nodes in ultrasound (OR = 2.20; 95%CI 1.01–4, 77), HER2 positive (OR 0.04; 95%CI 0.003–0.54), clinical-radiological response to NACT (OR = 0.07; 95%CI 0.01–0.75), and positive TAD (OR 15.48; 95%CI 1.68–142.78) were independent predictors of a positive result in ALND. We developed a “positive ALND predictive score”, with good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: p = 0.65), and discrimination (AUC = 0.93; 95% CI 0, 87–0.99), with highest Youden index (0.7) at cut-off point of 17% risk of positive ALND (sensitivity = 100%; specificity = 70%).ConclusionTumor size, number of suspected nodes, positive HER2, response to NACT, and metastatic TAD are independent predictors of ALND. The predictive score for positive ALND would be a good indicator to safely omit ALND.     

Unnecessary axillary node dissections in the sentinel lymph node era

In the sentinel lymph node era, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for uninvolved axillary lymph nodes should be considered unnecessary and inappropriate. Between January 2000 and August 2005, 3487 out of 10,031 invasive breast cancer patients consecutively operated at the European Institute of Oncology were considered not suitable for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) and were directly submitted to ALND (‘direct ALND’). In 2875 cases (82%) a variable grade of axillary involvement was shown, while in 612 patients (18%) no evidence of metastatic spreading was documented in the axilla. In particular, the presence of suspicious nodes at pre-operative clinical evaluation of the axilla (191 patients), neoadjuvant treatment (188 patients), large tumour >2 cm (88 patients), multifocality of disease (76 patients), previous excisional biopsy (49 patients), were considered the most frequent contraindications to SNB and led to an ‘unnecessary ALND’. According to the wider extension of the indications for SNB over the time, the number of ‘unnecessary ALNDs’ progressively decreased from 26% (in 2000) to 9% of the ‘direct ALNDs’ (in 2005). As the clinical indications to SNB are progressively extending to encompass most breast cancer patients with non-metastatic disease who were previously excluded, great effort should be made to avoid ‘unnecessary ALNDs’.     

Accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced breast cancer and clinically positive axillary nodes

Background

Feasibility and accuracy of sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) after the delivery of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is controversial. We here report our experience in NAC-treated patients with locally advanced breast cancer and clinically positive axillary nodes, and compare it with the results from our previous randomized trial assessing SLNB in early-stage breast cancer patients.

Patients and methods

Sixty-four consecutive patients with large infiltrating tumor and clinically positive axillary nodes received NAC and subsequent lymphatic mapping, SLNB and complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The status of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) was compared to that of the axilla.

Results

At least one SLN was identified in 60 of the 64 patients (93.8%). Among those 60 patients, 37 (61.7%) had one or more positive SLN(s) and 23 (38.3%) did not. Two of the patients with negative SLN(s) presented metastases in other non-sentinel nodes. SLNB thus had a false-negative rate, a negative predictive value and an overall accuracy of 5.1%, 91.3% and 96.7%, respectively. All these values were similar to those we reported for SLNB in the settings of early-stage breast cancer.

Conclusion

SLNB after NAC is safe and feasible in patients with locally advanced breast cancer and clinically positive nodes, and accurately predicts the status of the axilla.     

200 Sentinel lymph node biopsies without axillary lymph node dissection -- no axillary recurrences after a 3-year follow-up

The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of axillary recurrences in sentinel lymph node (SLN)-negative breast cancer patients after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone without further axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Between May 1999 and February 2002, 333 consecutive patients with primary invasive breast cancer up to 4 cm and clinically negative axillae were entered into this prospective study. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified using the combined method with blue dye (Patent blue V) and technetium 99m-labelled albumin (Nanocoll). Sentinel lymph nodes were examined by frozen sections, standard haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining. In SLN-positive patients, ALND was performed. Sentinel lymph node-negative patients had no further ALND. The SLN identification rate was 98.5% (328 out of 333). In all, 128 out of 328 (39.0%) patients had positive SLNs and complete ALND. A total of 200 out of 328 (61.0%) patients were SLN negative and had no further ALND. The mean tumour size of SLN-negative patients was 16.5 mm. The mean number of SLNs removed was 2.1 per patient. There were no local or axillary recurrences at a median follow-up of 36 months. The absence of axillary recurrences after SLNB without ALND in SLN-negative breast cancer patients supports the hypothesis that SLNB is accurate and safe while providing less surgical morbidity than ALND. Short-term results are very promising that SLNB without ALND in SLN-negative patients is an excellent procedure for axillary staging in a cohort of breast cancer patients with small tumours.     

Follow-up of sentinel node negative breast cancer patients without axillary lymph node dissection.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients at our institution and to report the follow-up status of node-negative patients with removal of only the sentinel node. METHODS: A total of 247 breast cancer patients underwent sentinel node (SN) mapping between June of 1996 and September of 2000. The SN was identified by using a combination of vital blue dye and a radiolabeled colloid. RESULTS: A SN was identified in 227 of 247 patients (91.9%). One hundred forty-five were SN negative, 82 were SN positive. All SN-positive patients underwent axillary dissection of level I and II, whereas 83 patients with a negative SN had SN biopsy only. Median follow-up of these patients at 22 months revealed no axillary recurrence; the morbidity resulting from SN biopsy was negligible. CONCLUSIONS: Although the follow-up is very short, SN biopsy only in node-negative breast cancer patients had no negative impact on the axillary failure rate and resulted in negligible morbidity.