纳米碳标记前哨淋巴结在早期宫颈癌诊疗中的价值研究

目的:探讨纳米碳标记前哨淋巴结活检（carbon nanoparticle labeled sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）对早期宫颈癌患者诊疗的应用价值。方法:48例早期宫颈癌患者于宫颈3点、9点分别注射稀释后的纳米碳1 mL,腹腔镜下获取SLN后行广泛全子宫切除+盆腔淋巴结清扫术,切除的SLN及非前哨淋巴结行病理检查。结果:48例患者均检出SLN,平均每例患者检出(3±1.5)枚,显影率为100%,其中闭孔淋巴引流区为检出SLN最多的部位,其次为髂内、髂外和髂总动脉淋巴引流区。术后病理显示4例患者淋巴结阳性,阳性淋巴结共12枚,SLN 10枚,非SLN 2枚,而这4例淋巴结转移患者均被SLNB成功检出。SLNB假阳性率和假阴性率均为0,敏感性为100%（4/4）,准确性为100%（48/48）,阴性预测值为100%（44/44）。结论:纳米碳标记的SLNB可以准确预测早期宫颈癌患者盆腔淋巴结的转移情况。     

前哨淋巴结检测在早期宫颈癌中的临床应用

背景与目的：前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymphnode,SLN）检测已经广泛应用于一些实体肿瘤的治疗方案设计中,特别是乳腺癌和体表恶性黑色素瘤。若SLN阴性,则可视为该淋巴区域无肿瘤转移。本研究的目的是探讨放射性核素定位法、活性染料定位法及二者联合法探测宫颈癌SLN和评价SLN对早期宫颈癌盆腔淋巴结转移状况的预测价值。方法：27例欲行广泛性子宫切除＋盆腔淋巴结清扫术的宫颈癌患者,术前16h注射^99mTc-右旋糖酐,进行SLN显像：手术时．注射亚甲蓝约4ml,寻找监染淋巴结;同时术中用1探针探测放射性热点。SLN全部被切除后,行广泛子宫切除＋盆腔淋巴结清扫术,所有切除的SLN及非SLN（non—sentinel lymph node,NSLN）分别送常规病理检查。结果：染料法、核素法、联合法对27例患者的SLN检出率分别为96.3%（26/27）、100%（27/27）,100%（27/27）;27例患者中染料法、核素法、联合法分别检出SLN61枚、69枚、70枚;核素法中,术前SPECT/CT融合显像较平面显像多检出4枚宫旁淋巴结。病理结果示7例患者有淋巴结转移,占25.9%（7/27）。SLN检测的敏感性,准确性、阴性预测值,假阴性率分别为85.7%（6/7）,96.3%（26/27）,95.2%（20/21）,14.3%（1/7）。结论：术前SPECT/CT三维断层显像检出SLN的敏感性优于平面显像,并且能够对SLN进行准确定位,联合应用放射性核素定位法和活性染料识别法提高了SLN检出的准确性;SLN的病理结果可以准确的预测早期宫颈癌患者盆腔淋巴结的病理状态。     

1枚前哨淋巴结阳性早期乳腺癌保腋窝的可行性分析

目的探讨1枚前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymph node,SLN）阳性的早期乳腺癌患者保腋窝（omitting axillary dissection,OAD）的可行性。方法用美蓝作为示踪剂先行乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检术（sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）,根据快速冰冻病理结果分为SLN阴性组与1枚SLN阳性组,随后两组均行常规腋窝淋巴结清扫（axillary lymph node dissection,ALND）以解剖出非前哨淋巴结（non—sentinellymphnode,NSLN）,比较两组间NSLN的阳性率。结果SLN阴性组30例,1例NSLN阳性,阳性率为3．3％,准确性为96．7％（29／30）;1枚SLN阳性组30例,仅3例NSLN阳性,阳性率为10．0％;两组阳性率差异无统计学意义（X^2=1．071,P=0．612）。全组随访1～48个月,均无区域淋巴结复发。结论1枚SLN阳性的早期乳腺癌患者可考虑OAD。     

甲状腺癌前哨淋巴结活检的应用观察研究

目的应用SLNB技术检测甲状腺癌前哨淋巴结,评价染料核素联合定位法的可行性及临床应用情况。方法应用SLNB技术检测在我科住院的46例甲状腺癌患者的前哨淋巴结,男11例,女35例;年龄25～75岁。Ⅰ期21例,Ⅱ期17例,Ⅲ期6例,Ⅳ期2例;有淋巴结转移31例,无淋巴结转移15例;甲状腺乳头状癌28例,滤泡腺癌17例,髓样癌1例。结果 46例甲状腺癌有43例检出SLN,其中SLN共检出65枚,其中1枚的23例,取出2枚的18例,取出3枚的2例。术中行冰冻检出有转移的SLN28枚,术后常规病理检出有转移的SLN31枚。SLN检出率93.4%（43/46）,敏感性90.3%（28/31）,假阴性率9.7%（3/31）。结论用核素、染料、r计数仪联合检测SLN,检出率较高（93.4%,43/46）,敏感性也较高（90.3%,28/31）,假阴性率9.7%（3/31）。与国内外报道接近,分别为66%～100%和80%～100%。因此用核素、染料、r计数仪联合检测SLN的方法可靠、准确性高,可以作为常规方法检测SLN。而根据SLN的结果决定是否行颈淋巴结清扫术,将有可能取代传统的颈淋巴结清扫原则。     

吲哚菁绿联合美蓝在乳腺癌腋窝前哨淋巴结活检的临床应用价值

目的:探讨吲哚菁绿（indocyanine green,ICG ）荧光导航法联合美蓝示踪法在乳腺癌腋窝前哨淋巴结活检（sentinel lymph node biopsy ,SLNB）中的临床应用价值。方法:收集2013年5 月至2014年4 月广东省汕头中心医院符合入组标准的89例早期乳腺癌患者。其中第一阶段,53例术中行ICG 联合美蓝注射,并利用淋巴荧光显像及美蓝示踪行前哨淋巴结活检术联合腋窝淋巴结清扫术（axillary lymph node dissection ALND ）;第二阶段,36例术中前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymphnode ,SLN ）冰冻病理阴性患者不再行腋窝淋巴结清扫。统计SLN 的检出成功率、准确率及假阴性率。结果:89例患者的SLN 检出成功率为96.6%（86/ 89）,第一阶段检出成功率为94.3%（50/ 53）、准确率98.0%（49/ 50）、假阴性率2.6%（1/ 38）,第二阶段检出成功率为100%（36/ 36）。 ICG 荧光导航法联合美蓝示踪法检出196 枚SLN 中荧光显示为179 枚,196 枚SLN 其中显示蓝染142 枚、未显示蓝染的54枚仅显示荧光。196 枚SLN 中有转移为45枚,5 枚仅显示荧光。22例患者SLN 转移,转移率为24.7%（22/ 89）,2 例患者的SLN 仅显示荧光而未蓝染。中位随访时间为25个月,未发现同侧区域淋巴结复发。结论:ICG 荧光导航法联合美蓝示踪法能够安全有效地应用于乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检。      

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。     

子宫颈癌患者血清、盆腔淋巴结HPV检测及其相关性探讨

目的:检测宫颈癌患者原发灶、血清及其盆腔淋巴结中HPV DNA及亚型,探讨其相关性及临床意义。方法:选取16例行广泛全子宫切除术和盆腔淋巴结清扫术宫颈癌患者的原发灶组织、术前静脉血与盆腔淋巴结石蜡组织,运用PCR方法对上述标本进行HPV DNA及亚型的检测。结果:宫颈癌原发灶组织、血清标本中HPV DNA阳性率为50%(8/16)。16例盆腔淋巴结石蜡组织中13例为HPV DNA阳性(13/16,81.25%),其中总共切除的133个淋巴结中60个为阳性(60/133,45.1%),8例淋巴结HPV DNA阳性的病例其对应的原发灶组织也为阳性且两者亚型相同。盆腔淋巴结中的HPV DNA阳性率为45.1%(60/133),显著高于病理证实的淋巴结转移率1.5%(2/133)。6例患者(6/16,37.5%)原发灶、血清、盆腔淋巴结同时均为HPV DNA阳性;2例患者(2/16,12.5%)原发灶、盆腔淋巴结中HPV DNA表达阳性,而血清为阴性;1例患者(1/16,6.25%)淋巴结、血清HPV DNA阳性,而原发灶为阴性;未发现原发灶、血清HPV DNA表达阳性而淋巴结为阴性的病例,而且以上HPV DNA阳性的病例同一个患者对应的HPV亚型也相同。结论:宫颈癌患者血清中HPV DNA检出率与临床分期无关。宫颈癌患者盆腔淋巴结的HPV DNA检测可提高病理诊断淋巴结转移的阳性率,并且淋巴结中HPV DNA的检出率与原发灶的分化程度相关。宫颈癌原发灶、血清、盆腔淋巴结中HPV感染可能存在相关性。     

前哨淋巴结活检术在结直肠癌中的应用研究

目的：探讨结直肠癌中前哨淋巴结定位活检术的适用性。方法：20例结直肠癌患者纳入研究,术前3h经纤维肠镜、肛镜于病灶周围粘膜下注入99mTc标记的右旋糖苷,术中在病灶周围浆膜下注入亚甲蓝,探测仪检测放射性高出背景组织10倍以上或（和）蓝染的淋巴结视为结直肠癌的前哨淋巴结（sentinel lymphnode,SLN）,行常规病理检查,分别计算前哨淋巴结诊断结直肠癌区域淋巴结转移状态、假阴性率等,并根据SLN活检结果决定结直肠癌的手术方式。结果：本组结直肠癌SLN的检出成功率为80%（16/20）,每例检出1～3个,平均2.4个/例,SLN的转移率为37.5%（18/48）;诊断敏感性80%（16/20）;诊断准确率83.3%（15/18）;假阴性率20%（4/20）。结论：前哨淋巴结活检术适合于结直肠癌,联合示踪法检测结直肠癌前哨淋巴结可判断区域淋巴结的转移状态,并可用于指导结直肠癌淋巴结清扫范围。     

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。     

RT-PCR与免疫组化法检测宫颈癌前哨淋巴结微转移的探讨

目的:应用RT-PCR与免疫组织化学技术检测宫颈癌前哨淋巴结微转移,比较2种方法的差异.方法:选取经病理确诊的53例宫颈癌患者的110枚前哨淋巴结,进行病理切片,免疫组织化学染色与RT-PCR检测CK19的表达.结果:53例患者瘤体病灶PCR及免疫组织化学检测显示均有CK19阳性表达,阳性率100.0%.13例(24.52%)患者前哨淋巴结阳性表达,对13例患者的23枚前哨淋巴结进行PCR与免疫组织化学检测,结果有21枚(91.3%)前哨淋巴结PCR阳性;19枚(82.6%)免疫组织化学阳性.40例患者87枚前哨淋巴结阴性表达.有12例患者28枚前哨淋巴结PCR阳性,淋巴结阳性检出率为32.18%;有7例患者11枚前哨淋巴结阳性,阳性检出率为12.64%.PCR与免疫组织化学阳性表达分别为25例(47.16%)和20例(37.73%).结论:应用RT-PCR和免疫组织化学技术检测宫颈癌前哨淋巴结微转移的敏感性均高于临床病理;RT-PCR技术检测CK19基因判断宫颈癌前哨淋巴结微转移值得临床推广应用.     

美蓝染色法鉴别哨兵淋巴结及其临床意义

目的：探讨美蓝染色法鉴别哨兵淋巴结（SLN）的可行性及其活检的临床意义。方法：采用美蓝染色法，对50例乳腺癌患者行腋窝淋巴作图，所得SLN和非哨兵淋巴结（NSLN）均行常规HE染色。阴性SLN再行连续切片及免疫组化检查，结果：50例患者中SLN阳性45例，SLN鉴别成功率为90．0％，45例中常规病检16例SLN阳性，对29例SLN阴性者采用连续切片和免疫组化检查发现7例（24．1％）有微转移，硝兵淋巴结活检的准确率，灵敏度和假阴性率分别为91．1％，85．7％和8．9％，结论：采用美蓝染色法能准确鉴别SLN，反映乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴结状况，采用连续切片和免疫组化检查可检测出NSLN中的微转移灶，降低假阴性率。     

Impact of isolated tumor cells in sentinel lymph nodes detected by immunohistochemical staining

AIM: Isolated tumor cells (ITCs) in lymph nodes are defined histologically as node-negative. The clinical impact of ITCs in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) remains unclear. We report the prognosis of breast cancer patients with ITC-positive SLNs detected by immunohistochemical staining. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and sixty-five breast cancer patients with histologically negative SLNs were seen between January 1998 and December 2000. In 69 patients, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was immediately followed by axillary lymph node dissection, and 96 had undergone SNB alone. Permanent sections of 301 SLNs were re-examined after hematoxylin-eosin staining and cytokeratin 19 immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: ITCs were found in 18 SLNs of 17 patients and a micrometastasis was found in one SLN of one patient. As of November 2005, only one patient with ITCs in one SLN had supraclavicular lymph node recurrence. In contrast, 18 of the 147 patients with negative SLNs had tumor recurrence. Surgical management of the axilla had no influence on recurrence-free survival in all of the patients. CONCLUSION: This study shows that breast cancer patients with ITC-positive SLNs should be clinically managed as node-negative patients.     

早期非小细胞肺癌前哨淋巴结微转移检测的应用研究

目的 目前,尚无检测技术可准确判断肺癌前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)微转移.本研究探讨CK19和MAGE A3表达与非小细胞肺癌(non-small cell lung cancer,NSCLC) SLN微转移的相关性及临床价值.方法 选择山东大学附属山东省肿瘤医院胸外科32例接受手术治疗的临床Ⅰ～ⅡA期NSCLC患者,术中联合应用染色法(异舒泛蓝溶液)和放射同位素法(99 Tc硫胶体检测)找寻SLN,并采用免疫组化技术检测SLN及非前哨淋巴结(non-sentinel lymph node,nowSLN)中CK19和MAGE-A3抗体的表达.结果 32例患者均检测出SLN,共清除淋巴结598枚,其中SLN 103枚,non-SLN 495枚.平均每例患者清除淋巴结(18.69±8.13)枚,清除SLN(3.22±1.74)枚.免疫组化法检测到20例患者44枚SLN中CK19表达阳性,19例患者31枚SLN中MAGE-A3抗体表达阳性.SLN免疫组化检查阳性率为42.72％,明显高于常规HE染色的阳性率(25.24％),P=0.01.SLN的阳性表达率与临床病理分期有关,P＜0.05;而与性别、年龄、肿瘤部位、分化程度、肿瘤大小和肿瘤类型无关,P＞0.05.结论 CK19和MAGMA3是判断淋巴结微转移较好的分子标志物,通过免疫组化技术检测SLN中CK19和MAGE-A3表达有助于评估区域淋巴结微转移状况.     

结直肠癌前哨淋巴结体外定位检测的临床研究

目的:探讨用体外亚甲蓝作为染色剂寻找前哨淋巴结(sentinellymph node,SLN)的方法在结直肠癌SLN定位中的可行性及临床价值。方法:将行标准根治性切除的结直肠癌标本离体后,在肿块四周黏膜下注射亚甲蓝后追踪辨认。蓝染的淋巴结视为SLN,未蓝染的淋巴结被视为NSLN。SLN中无癌细胞转移者常规行细胞角蛋白(CK、AE1/AE3)免疫组化检查,CK阳性者视为有微转移病例。结果:82例患者成功标记SLN(96.47%),准确度为90.24%。通过CK检测,16例SLN阴性患者发现微转移,总转移率提升了18.30%,TNM分期得以提升的患者达18.82%。HE染色下SLN的假阴性率为23.17%,结直肠癌的假阴性率分别为6.38%和45.71%,有统计学意义（P=0.001）。结论:前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）对结肠癌区域淋巴结转移情况的判断更有临床价值,但在直肠癌方面的应用值得进一步探讨。     

结直肠癌前哨淋巴结微转移分子检测及临床意义

目的:探讨结直肠癌前哨淋巴结(sentinellymphnode,SLN)定位和前哨淋巴结微转移检测的临床意义。方法:对52例结直肠癌患者,术前用异硫蓝标记法标记SLN并定位,用RT-PCR法检测SLN中CK20mRNA的表达。同时与常规病检法比较其检测敏感性。并分析结直肠癌转移与各种病理因素关系。结果:SLN定位成功率为96%,SLN状态与非SLN的符合率为100%。RT-PCR法与常规病检法转移的检出率相比较差异有统计学意义,P=0·039。在常规病检阴性的40例淋巴结中,RT-PCR法检出8例有微转移。结直肠癌转移与肿瘤侵袭深度、分化程度、Duke’s分期密切关系。结论:SLN技术运用于结直肠癌将更方便、更准确判断淋巴结转移情况。RT-PCR法较常规病理检查更为敏感,通过SLN定位和RT-PCR的联合使用,可明显提高结直肠癌SLN微转移的检出率。并提高结直肠癌临床分期,为结直肠癌进一步治疗提供理论依据。     

Prognostic value of sentinel node in oral cancer

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: In stage I oral squamous cell carcinoma, clinical examination and imaging techniques are unable to identify 60-90% of patients at risk of micrometastasis, while the sentinel node biopsy technique allows to avoid the morbidity of elective neck dissection in patients not actually affected by micrometastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-one T1-T2N0 patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy after peritumoral injection of human albumin labeled with 99Tc. Focal areas of radiotracer uptake were marked on the skin preoperatively. The sentinel lymph node (SLN) was identified by the combined use of blue dye and gamma probe and subsequently removed. Complete neck dissection was then performed in all patients and the histological findings were compared with those of SLN biopsy. RESULTS: The SLN was identified in 95% of the patients; in four cases (10%) two SLNs were isolated. In 18% of our patients the SLNs were located outside the expected drainage area. When the histology of the negative SLNs was compared with the pathological status of the neck dissection specimens no false negatives were found. Five SLNs in four patients contained micrometastases and were the only positive lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: SLN biopsy can be a valuable staging technique in T2 and T2 oral cancer with uninvolved neck in patients whose lymphatic drainage of the neck has not been altered by previous surgery or radiotherapy. It provides reliable detection of micrometastasis, indicating which level(s) should be removed ipsilaterally or contralaterally, and allows the surgeon to accurately plan neck dissection, taking into consideration the pattern of lymphatic drainage of each individual patient. In this way unnecessary neck dissection and its morphofunctional sequelae can be avoided in a considerable number of patients.     

Prognostic and therapeutic impact of sentinel node micrometastasis in patients with invasive breast cancer

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Locoregional lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic factors determining the need for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer. Many authors have reported that micrometastases were not detected by routine sectioning of lymph nodes but were identified by multiple sectioning and additional staining. Among lymph node-negative patients 15-20% had an unfavorable outcome at five years from primary surgery. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is an accurate technique for identifying axillary metastases because the pathologist utilizes hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) staining together with immunohistochemistry (IH) to examine all lymph node sections. Sentinel node micrometastasis has therefore become an important tumor-related prognostic factor. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: From November 1997 to October 2001 we examined in 210 patients the pathological features of primary breast lesions and SLN metastases and we correlated these with the tumor status of non-SLNs in the same axillary basin. We applied IH examination to both SLNs and non-SLNs of patients who were negative for metastasis by standard H-E examination. RESULTS: In this study lymph node staging was based on SLN findings, primary tumor size and the presence of peritumoral lymphovascular invasion (LVI). We found 18 SLN micrometastases (9%) in 210 patients and one of these (5.5%) of patients with SLN micrometastasis) also had one non-SLN metastasis: this patient had LVI and a larger primary tumor than patients with SLN micrometastasis without non-SLN metastasis. We also found 24 SLN macrometastases (11.5%) in 210 patients and 13 of these (54.2% of patients with SLN macrometastases) had one or more non-SLN metastases. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results reported in the literature, tumor cells are unlikely to be found in non SLNs when the primary lesion is small and SLN involvement micrometastatic (5.5% in our experience, 7% in Giuliano's). Our findings suggest that axillary lymph node dissection may not be necessary in patients with SLN micrometastasis from T1 lesions.     

Sentinel lymph node analysis in squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx

AIMS: The aim of our study was to evaluate the usefulness and applicability of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification in N0 carcinomas of the oral cavity and oropharynx. STUDY DESIGN: We carried out a prospective evaluation of SLN identification in 20 patients with oral cavity or oropharynx carcinomas with no clinical evidence of lymph node metastases. METHODS: Peritumoral infiltration with technetium-99-labeled nanocolloid followed by lymphoscintigraphy was carried out approximately 18 hours prior to surgery. A vital dye was injected intraoperatively and the SLN was identified with the aid of a gamma probe. All patients underwent routine neck dissection. RESULTS: While multiple radioactive nodes were generally identified on lymphoscintigraphy, the number of nodes ranging from one to five with variable degrees of uptake, intraoperative gamma probe scanning allowed the identification of a single more radioactive lymph node in 19 of the 20 patients. In only one patient did this method lead to the identification of two equally highly radioactive SLNs, with no uptake in the remaining nodes. All SLNs were ipsilateral to the neoplastic lesion. In 15 cases the SLN was tumor negative and so were the remaining nodes obtained by comprehensive neck dissection. In five cases the SLN was the only lymph node containing micrometastasis among those obtained by dissection. There were no instances of node positivity not involving the SLN. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node identification in ENT surgery may indicate intraoperatively if node metastasis are present, thereby avoiding overtreatment in a substantial proportion of patients with N0 carcinomas of the oral cavity or oropharynx.     

Sentinel node biopsy in primary breast cancer: radioactive detection and metastatic disease.

AIM: To examine the relationship between the intensity of the radioactive counts and the presence of tumor metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) in order to correctly identify the number of SLNs to be removed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five hundred three breast cancer patients with successful radioisotope localization of SLNs using the combined blue dye and radioisotope method were analyzed. SLN biopsy was continued until all the blue-stained and radioactive nodes were removed. RESULTS: The mean number of harvested SLNs was 1.7+/-0.9, and the number of radioactive SLNs among the harvested nodes was 1.6+/-0.8. SLN metastasis was found in 123 of the 503 cases. The metastasis was detected in the SLN with the highest radioactive count (the hottest SLN) in 94 of the 123 cases with positive SLNs. The positive rate in the hottest SLN was 89% in 61 cases with a single radioactive SLN, and 65% in 62 cases with multiple radioactive SLNs. Of the 29 cases with positivity in other than the hottest SLNs, the metastasis was detected in the second hottest SLN in 16 cases, in the third hottest SLN in one case, in a mixture of negative radioactive SLNs and blue-dye-stained in four cases, and in the negative SLNs and positive non-SLNs (false-negative) in eight cases. Of 123 node-positive cases, 111 cases had metastasis that was detected within the first three hottest SLNs. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that lymph node metastasis may not always be detected in the hottest SLN. Thus, in practice, all radioactive and/or blue-dye-stained nodes should be removed for further examination.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy as guidance for central neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND.

Occult lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) can be detected by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy, but studies in larger patient cohorts undergoing complete central neck dissection may be required to assess the diagnostic accuracy of SLN. Therefore, the authors prospectively assessed the usefulness of SLN biopsy for the detection of central lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated PTC who had no suspicious cervical lymphadenopathy.

METHODS.

After peritumoral injection of methylene blue, SLN biopsy was performed in 50 patients with newly diagnosed PTC who had no palpable or ultrasound (US)‐detected lymph node involvement. After SLN biopsy, all patients underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection. The diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative SLN sampling was calculated by comparison with the final pathologic diagnosis.

RESULTS.

SLNs were identified in 46 of 50 patients (92%); of these, 14 SLNs were positive and 32 SLNs were negative on intraoperative frozen sections. One patient had a positive SLN in the jugular region and subsequently underwent modified radical neck dissection. Final pathologic examination revealed that 18 patients (36%), including 4 who had negative SLNs, had central lymph node metastasis. Thus, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values of SLN biopsy were 77.8%, 100%, 92%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively. Temporary and permanent hypocalcemia developed in 19 patients and 1 patient, respectively. There were no direct complications of SLN sampling.

CONCLUSIONS.

SLN biopsy in patients with PTC without gross clinical or US lymph node involvement was able to detect occult metastasis with high accuracy and may have the potential to select patients who require central neck dissection. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.