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。     

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。     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结规范化处理

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

Targeted axillary dissection using Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization technique in the clinically negative marked lymph node after neoadjuvant treatment in breast cancer patients

PurposeTo be aware of the feasibility of targeted axillary dissection (TAD) injecting ^99mTechnetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin (^99mTc-MAA) preoperatively into the clipped lymph node of patients with axillary complete clinical response (ycN0), after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer.Patients and methodsA retrospective observational study was performed on N1 patients with a clipped positive node and a clinically negative axilla (ycN0) after NAC in one center. The pretreatment positive lymph node was injected with ^99mTc-MAA the day before surgery and identified intraoperatively with a radioguided occult lesion localization (ROLL) technique. Patients were subjected to a TAD with the intent of identifying the clipped node and other/s sentinel nodes through a standard sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).Results54 patients and 55 axillary clipped nodes were included. The clip was intraoperatively encountered in every patient, accomplishing a 100% detection rate, although in one case no lymphatic tissue could be found in the intraoperative frozen section. An axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was avoided in 62.9% of the cases (34/54).ConclusionThe use of the ROLL technique is a highly valuable tool since it allows a 100% success rate in retrieving the marker (and a 98.1% rate in detecting the clipped lymph node) in ycN0 breast cancer patients.     

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.     

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.     

Advantages of preoperative localization and surgical resection of metastatic axillary lymph nodes using magnetic seeds after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

PurposeTo assess the safety and effectiveness of magnetic seeds in preoperative localization and surgical dissection of metastatic axillary lymph nodes (LN+) in breast cancer patients with axillary involvement, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). In addition, to assess the impact of targeted axillary dissection (TAD) in reducing the rate of false negatives (FN) in sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB).Materials and MethodsA cross-sectional prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2017 to September 2019, including breast cancer patients with axillary lymph node involvement treated with NAC. Prior to NAC, the LN+ were marked by ultrasound-guided clip insertion. After NAC, a magnetic seed (Magseed®) was inserted in the clip-marked lymph node (MLN). During surgery, the MLN was located and removed with the aid of a magnetic detection probe (Sentimag®) and the sentinel lymph node was removed. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was used to determine the rate of FN for SLNB alone and the combination of SLNB and MLN dissection, called TAD.ResultsThe study included 29 patients (mean age, 55; range, 30–78 years). Selective preoperative localization and surgical dissection were successful for all 30 MLNs (100%). The MLN corresponded to the SLN in 50% of cases. After ALND, there were 21.4% (3/14) FN with SLNB alone and 5.9% (1/17) with TAD.ConclusionsFollowing NAC, selective surgical removal of MLN by preoperative localization using magnetic seeds is a safe and effective procedure with a success rate of 100%. Adding TAD reduces the rate of FN associated with SLNB alone.     

Results of sentinel node biopsy not affected by previous excisional biopsy.

AIMS: Sentinel lymph node (SN) biopsy has been validated in the treatment of breast carcinoma. Patients with previous excisional biopsy are regarded as ineligible for SN biopsy. We evaluated the results of SN biopsy for this group of patients based on confirmatory axillary lymph node dissection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 1997 all 88 patients with stage T(1-3) breast cancer who had previously undergone diagnostic excisional biopsy followed by complete axillary lymph node dissection, were enrolled into a prospective study to determine the validity of the sentinel node procedure. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy visualized one or more axillary hot spots in 84/88 patients. A successful SN biopsy was performed in 87 patients. Complete axillary lymph-node dissection showed no false-negative SN biopsy among the 87 SN procedures. CONCLUSION: SN biopsy is a reliable and safe method following excisional biopsy as is confirmed by completion axillary lymph node dissection. Therefore, patients with previous excisional biopsy are eligible for sentinel node procedure and can be spared unnecessary axillary lymph node dissection.     

99m锝硫胶体联合美蓝在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检中的应用价值

目的探讨锝-99m硫胶体(99mTc-SC)联合美蓝在早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)中的可行性、准确性及临床应用价值。方法采用99mTc-SC联合美蓝对68例T1-2N0M0乳腺癌患者进行SLNB,将切除的前哨淋巴结(SLN)行病理检查了解其符合率,探讨联合法在早期乳腺癌SLNB中的临床应用价值。结果成功确定患者SLN 67例,1例术前单光子发射型计算机断层扫描(SPECT)未显影,10例SLN病理检测阳性并行腋窝淋巴结清扫(ALND),99mTc-SC灵敏度为81.8%,准确性为97.1%,假阴性率为18.2%。美蓝法灵敏度为72.7%,准确性为95.6%,假阴性率为27.3%。联合法灵敏度为90.9%,准确性为98.5%,假阴性率为9.1%。假阳性率为0。结论99mTc-SC联合美蓝检测法可明显降低早期乳腺癌SLNB的假阴性率。     

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。     

染料法前哨淋巴结活检在乳腺癌手术中的应用价值

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）在乳腺癌手术中的临床应用价值。方法采用亚甲蓝作为示踪染料对乳腺癌开展SLNB，并且对术中冰冻检查前哨淋巴结（SLN）阴性的病例分组施行部分腋窝淋巴结清扫术（PALND）及常规全腋窝淋巴结清扫（TALND），观察术后并发症、生存率等指标并比较分析。结果SLN检出率97．6％，假阴性率14．3％；接受PALND组术后并发症发生率明显低于传统的TALND组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），而总生存率间的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论腋区SLNB能准确反映乳腺癌腋窝淋巴转移状态，为临床缩小乳腺癌手术范围和减少术后并发症提供重要参考价值。     

前哨淋巴结活检联合术前超声在老年乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫中的价值

目的:探讨前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）联合术前超声在老年乳腺癌患者治疗中的临床价值。方法:回顾性分析136例老年乳腺癌患者资料,将其分为三组,A组:SLNB+超声组,B组:SLNB组,C组:超声组。分别统计各组检查结果与术前腋窝淋巴结穿刺病理或SLNB的符合情况,分析三组对腋窝淋巴结转移的评价。结果:结果显示A组较B组、A组较C组均准确率高,差异有统计学意义,而B组与C组差异无统计学意义。诊断试验结果显示:SLNB比术前超声的特异度高,误诊率低。灵敏度和漏诊率差距不大。结论:SLNB联合术前超声在老年乳腺癌患者治疗中准确性高,较单独SLNB或术前超声均具有优势,值得在老年乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移情况的评估和治疗中推广应用。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with male breast carcinoma

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

Sentinel lymph node biopsy following previous axillary surgery in recurrent breast cancer

IntroductionIpsilateral breast recurrence or second primary breast cancer can develop in patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery (BCS) and axillary surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a reoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) as a repeated axillary staging procedure.Patients and methodsFrom August 2014 through January 2017 patients with locally recurrent breast cancer or with BRCA mutation requiring risk reduction mastectomy as a second surgical procedure, underwent repeat SLNB in three Hungarian Breast Units with a radiocolloid (and blue dye) technique.ResultsHundred and sixty repeat SLNBs were analysed, 80 after previous SLNB and 80 after previous total or partial axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). SLN identification was successful in 106 patients (66%); 77/80 (77.5%) and 44/80 (55%) in the SLNB and ALND groups, respectively. (p < 0.003). Extra-axillary lymph drainage was more frequent in the ALND group (19/44, 43,2% versus 7/62, 11,3%; p < 0.001). Lymphatic drainage to the contralateral axilla was observed in 14 patients (11 in the ALND group, p = 0.025), isolated parasternal drainage was detected in 4 patients (p = 0.31). Only 9/106 patients with successful repeat SLNB (8,8%, all with 1 SLN removed) had SLN metastasesConclusionsRepeat SLNB is feasible in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence or new ipsilateral primary tumor after previous BCS and axillary staging. Repeat SLNB should replace routine ALND as the standard axillary restaging procedure in recurrent disease with a clinically negative axilla. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is important to explore extra-axillary lymphatic drainage in this restaging setting.     

乳腺癌腋淋巴结抽样和亚甲蓝示踪前哨淋巴结活检的对照研究

目的了解早期乳腺癌腋淋巴结抽样检查和亚甲蓝示踪前哨淋巴结活检的临床价值。方法2008年1月至2008年8月,对100例临床腋淋巴结阴性的早期乳腺癌患者进行腋淋巴结抽样检查和亚甲蓝示踪前哨淋巴结活检,然后行腋淋巴结切除,并对其结果进行统计学比较。结果腋淋巴结抽样检查的检出率为99％（99／100）,高于前哨淋巴结活检的检出率（84％,84／100）。两种方法的正确率和假阴性率分别为：97％（96／99）和94％（79／84）,10．7％（3／28）和16．7％（4／24）,两者差异无统计学意义。结论腋淋巴结抽样检出率明显高于前哨淋巴结的检出率,该方法简便易行,不需特殊设备和药物,具有进一步研究价值。     

早期乳腺癌腋窝亚LevelⅡ淋巴结清扫的初步研究

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

Axillary recurrence in women with a negative sentinel lymph node and no axillary dissection in breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely used for staging breast cancer. SLNB accurately determines axillary lymph node status with a low false negative rate. There remains concern that omitting axillary dissection may lead to recurrence in the axilla, and impact long term survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of axillary lymph node recurrence in patients who had a negative sentinel lymph node and did not undergo axillary node dissection. METHODS: Data was collected on all patients who had negative SLNB at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between July 1997 and June 2002. Demographics, type of operation, postoperative systemic, and radiation therapy, co-morbidity score, hormone receptor status, and the pathologic features of the tumor were abstracted for each patient. For each woman with recurrence, the dates of recurrence, the site(s) of recurrence, and the treatment for recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 33 months, 15 of 335 (4.5%) women who had negative SLNBs and who did not undergo completion axillary dissection developed a cancer recurrence. Only two patients (0.6%) had an axillary recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of axillary recurrence following a negative sentinel node biopsy is the same or less than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) alone. Concerns that omitting completion axillary dissection following a negative SLNB will increase the rate of axillary recurrence appear unfounded.     

早期乳腺癌腋窝亚LevelⅡ淋巴结清扫的初步研究

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

Feasibility of targeted axillary dissection for de-escalation of surgical treatment after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

BackgroundTargeted axillary dissection, which combines sentinel lymph node biopsy with removal of the proven involved node noted during the staging process, has been shown to improve axillary staging and decrease false negative rates after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.Objective(s)The main goal of this study was to assess the ability to identify and remove the clipped node and the false negative rate of targeted axillary dissection.MethodsWe performed a prospective study among patients with biopsy-confirmed nodal metastases who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A clip was placed on the sample node prior systemic therapy. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, all patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (dual tracer), localization and excision of the clipped node and axillary lymph node dissection. The clipped node was preoperatively localized in all cases placing an iodine-125 seed guided by ultrasound. The pathology of the sentinel nodes and clipped node was compared with other nodes.ResultsA total of 455 patients with invasive breast cancer were studied. Of the 148 patients with NAC, 32 met the eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 52.3 years. Systematic lymphadenectomy was performed in all patients, with an average of 14.3 lymph nodes removed. Detection rate of the clipped node alone was 96.9%, and 100% for targeted axillary dissection. Ability of clipped node alone to predict nodal status showed a FNR of 10,5% while SLNB alone performed by dual tracer and targeted axillary dissection, showed FNRs of 5.3% and 5.0%, respectively. Sentinel lymph nodes matched clipped node in 23 patients (74.2%).Conclusion (s)In node positive breast cancer patients, targeted axillary dissection is a reliably approach for axillary staging after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The preoperative location of the clipped node is mandatory to increase the detection rate and optimize the results of the technique.     

Efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer

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