γ探测仪在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结定位活检中的应用

目的:探讨γ探测仪在临床腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌前哨淋巴结定位活检术(SLNB)中的临床应用价值.方法:利用99m锝-右旋糖酐(99mTc-DX)作为前哨淋巴结(SLN)示踪剂,应用γ探测仪定位对29例临床腋窝淋巴结阴性乳腺癌病人实施SLNB,随后进行常规腋窝淋巴清扫术,分析SLNB对腋窝淋巴结转移状态的预测价值.结果:本组SLN转移率为41.67%,非SLN转移率仅为22.54%,两者有明显差异(P＜0.001).在19例常规病理SLN阴性病人中,连续切片发现2例SLN微转移.在12例SLN癌转移中,5例(41.66%)SLN为惟一的转移部位.有1例SLN阴性病人"跳跃转移".本组SLN的敏感性为92.31%,特异性为94.12%,假阴性为7.69%,准确率达96.55%.结论:SLN能准确反映早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状态,连续切片能提高SLNB的准确性.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检对腋窝淋巴结转移的预警价值研究

目的探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)预警腋窝淋巴结转移的价值. 方法对56例乳腺癌行亚甲蓝前哨淋巴结定位、活检和腋窝淋巴结清扫术,标本常规行HE染色、免疫组化病理检查. 结果 SLN成功检出52例(52/56,92.8%),常规病理检查证实SLN转移22例;SLN无转移,但非SLN发现转移者1例,假阴性率为4.3%(1/23).常规病理检查无转移的29例患者,免疫组化检测发现1例CK-19( )、EMA( ),另1例CK-19( ),CEA( ),而所属非前哨淋巴结无肿瘤转移. 结论乳腺癌亚甲蓝前哨淋巴结定位、活检可以预示腋窝淋巴结转移.     

连续切片病理检查测定乳腺癌前哨淋巴结微小转移158例分析

近年来,不少学者观察到早期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移率很低,进行腋窝淋巴结清扫(ALDN )并不是对所有患者都有意义[1].前哨淋巴结(SLN)可以代表腋窝淋巴结的转移状况,因此检测SLN的微小转移即可达到检测腋窝全部淋巴结的目的.我们应用连续切片方法检测SLN中的微小转移情况,探讨检测乳腺癌SLN微小转移的有效手段.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检对腋窝淋巴结状态的预测价值研究

为探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）组织学特征对腋窝淋巴结状态的预测价值，笔者应用专利蓝或锝99m标记的大分子右旋糖苷（99mTc-DX）为示踪剂成功显示20例乳腺癌患者的SLN。术中先进行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB），再行乳腺癌改良根治术。并应用常规病理（HE）、免疫组化（IHC）和逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）方法检测腋窝淋巴结转移。结果示，20例患者共找到腋窝淋巴结254个，其中SLN48个，NSLN206个。常规病理证实3例患者7个前哨淋巴结有癌转移，NSLN206个均无癌转移。免疫组化染色检测到7例患者11个SLN CK-19表达阳性，2个NSLN表达阳性。RT-PCR检测CK-19mRNA14例患者30个SLN和22个NSLN表达阳性。提示乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检能准确预测患者腋窝淋巴结的状态。     

前哨淋巴结阳性Luminal B型早期乳腺癌非前哨腋窝淋巴结状态对预后影响研究

目的研究前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)阳性的Luminal B(HER2阴性)型早期乳腺癌非前哨腋窝淋巴结状态对预后的影响。方法回顾性分析2008—2014年北京大学第一医院乳腺疾病中心经治的142例临床腋窝淋巴结阴性、SLN阳性的Luminal B(HER2阴性)型早期乳腺癌病例,对其临床病理学特点及与非前哨腋窝淋巴结是否存在转移进行相关性分析,并对非前哨腋窝淋巴结转移病人和无转移病人无疾病存活率(DFS)和总存活率(OS)进行对比分析。结果 142例SLN阳性病人中,平均每例病人检出SLN(2.06±1.26)枚,Spearman双变量相关性分析显示SLN转移数目与非前哨腋窝淋巴结是否存在转移具有相关性(r=0.167,P=0.047),而二元Logistics回归分析显示年龄、体重指数、是否绝经、原发肿瘤T分期、肿瘤组织学分级、脉管癌栓与该组SLN阳性病人非前哨腋窝淋巴结是否转移无相关性。非前哨腋窝淋巴结无转移病人78例(54.9%),DFS为93%,OS为93.1%;非前哨腋窝淋巴结转移病人64例(45.1%),DFS为95.2%,OS为91.9%。经Log-rank(Mantel-Cox)检验,两组在DFS(χ~2=0.011,P=0.918)及OS(χ~2=0.348,P=0.555)上差异均无统计学意义。结论 SLN阳性的Luminal B(HER2阴性)型早期乳腺癌病人,其阳性SLN数目与非前哨腋窝淋巴结是否转移存在相关性,其他临床病理因素无相关性,而非前哨腋窝淋巴结转移组和无转移组DFS和OS差异无统计学意义。     

102例前哨淋巴结阳性乳腺癌患者腋窝非前哨淋巴结转移相关因素分析

目的:回顾性研究我中心前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)阳性并续行腋窝淋巴结清扫术(axillary lymph node dissection,ALND)早期乳腺癌患者的临床病理资料,分析腋窝非前哨淋巴结(non-sentinel lymph node,NSLN)转移的相关危险因素,为建立符合本地区的预测模型提供依据。方法:收集温州市人民医院2009年1月—2016年12月102例前哨淋巴结活检阳性并进一步接受腋窝淋巴结清扫术的早期乳腺癌患者临床及病理资料,采用单因素分析及多因素Logistic回归分析方法研究这些临床病理因素与NSLN转移的关系。结果:本研究中共有102例SLN阳性乳腺癌患者进一步接受了ALND,其中36例NSLN发现有转移,NSLN转移检出率是35.3%(36/102)。根据单因素分析结果显示:组织学分级(χ~2=8.8214,P=0.0030)、SLN转移率≥0.5(χ~2=5.2377,P=0.0221)、SLN转移灶最大径 2 mm (χ~2=4.3290,P=0.0370)是NSLN转移的危险因素。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示:SLN转移率≥0.5(OR=1.63,95%CI:1.29-2.10,P=0.001)、SLN转移灶最大径 2 mm(OR=1.34,95%CI:1.02-2.12,P=0.032)是NSLN转移的独立预测因素。结论:SLN转移率≥0.5、SLN转移灶最大径 2 mm是预测乳腺癌NSLN转移的危险因素,可以作为预测因素,进一步用来构建符合本地区的预测模型。     

美蓝染色法乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检临床应用研究

目的探讨美蓝染色法在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检(sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB)中的应用价值。方法以68例可手术乳腺癌患者作为研究对象,临床体检腋窝淋巴结阴性,均单独采用美蓝作为前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node,SLN)示踪剂。结果全组患者共检出SLN 60例78枚。检出后行乳腺癌改良根治术60例,乳腺区段切除+腋窝淋巴结(axillary lymph node,ALN)切除术8例。60例中22例SLN病理结果为阳性,转移淋巴结数28枚,SLN转移率为35.9%(28/78)。全组患者共检出ALN805枚,其中24例病理结果阳性。SLNB的检出率为88.2%(60/68),60例成功检出患者中,38例SLN阴性,其中经病理检查ALN阳性(假阴性)者1例,8例未找到SLN患者中亦有1例ALN阳性。SLNB灵敏度为91.7%,准确率为98.3%,假阴性率为8.3%,假阳性率为0。结论应用美蓝进行SLN的认定是安全可行的,并有利于简化手术方式,提高患者术后生活质量。     

前哨淋巴结阳性乳腺癌非前哨淋巴结转移的情况分析

目的探讨前哨淋巴结（SLN）阳性乳腺癌患者的临床病理特征与非前哨淋巴结（NSLN）转移的关系。 方法回顾性分析2010年1月至2016年1月中山大学附属第一医院500例行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）的临床分期为T_1-2N₀M₀期乳腺癌患者资料,其中病理检查确诊SLN阳性、随后行腋窝淋巴结清扫（ALND）的乳腺癌患者共89例,总结其临床、病理因素的特征及其对腋窝NSLN转移的影响因素进行单因素及多因素Logistic分析。 结果SLN阳性率为17.8%（89/500）,49.4%（44/89）出现NSLN转移。单因素分析显示,NSLN转移与原发肿瘤分期、脉管浸润、SLN阳性数、SLN阳性率相关（χ²=4.062、36.084、7.003、10.889,P=0.044、<0.001、0.030、0.004）。进一步多因素Logistic回归分析显示,脉管浸润、SLN阳性率是NSLN转移的独立预测因子（OR=46.142,95%CI：11.821~258.472,P<0.000 1;OR=10.482,95%CI：2.564~51.312,P=0.002）。 结论SLN阳性的乳腺癌患者,其原发肿瘤分期、肿瘤是否多发、脉管浸润、SLN阳性数、SLN转移率与腋窝NSLN转移相关。其中,脉管浸润及SLN阳性率≥0.5是SLN阳性乳腺癌患者腋窝NSLN转移的独立预测因子。     

乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检术的临床应用

目的 探讨经乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检的可行性及应用前景。方法 应用亚甲蓝染色法检测62例乳腺癌患者的前哨淋巴结(SLN)。在乳腔镜下切除SLN,随后行乳腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫,SLN、腋窝淋巴结同时行HE染色,评价SLN检出率及假阴性率。结果 62例患者61例检出前哨淋巴结,成功率98．4％。无腋窝淋巴结转移者35例,转移27例,假阴性率0。结论 乳腔镜前哨淋巴结活检检出率高,美容效果好,并发症低,对于乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移有较高的敏感性,可以为绝大多数乳腺癌进行准确淋巴分期。     

前哨淋巴结阴性乳腺癌病人腋窝低位淋巴结清扫

目的:探讨前哨淋巴结(sentinel lymph node, SLN)阴性乳腺癌病人腋窝低位淋巴结清扫的必要性和安全性。方法:纳入2015年1月至2017年1月本中心及上海交通大学医学院附属瑞金医院外科乳腺疾病诊治中心单纯乳房切除和SLN阴性的718例乳腺癌病人,均行腋窝低位淋巴结清扫,分析其转移率及转移相关因素。结果:本研究腋窝低位淋巴结检出686例(95.5%),平均检出(9.4±5.7)(0～21)枚。40例病人发现腋窝低位淋巴结转移,转移率5.6%(40/718)。单因素分析显示,腋窝低位淋巴结转移与腋窝淋巴结可触及、前哨淋巴结活检(sentinel lymph node biopsy, SLNB)数目、脉管癌栓、神经侵犯、HER2阳性、分子分型显著相关(P0.05)。多因素Logistic分析显示,腋窝淋巴结可触及、SLNB数目、脉管癌栓、神经侵犯、分子分型是腋窝低位淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。术后患肢发生上肢淋巴水肿5例(0.7%),病人上肢功能恢复良好。结论:SLN阴性乳腺癌病人存在腋窝低位淋巴结临床转移。腋窝低位淋巴结转移存在许多危险因素,有必要行淋巴结清扫。     

Identification and evaluation of axillary sentinel lymph nodes in patients with breast carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been shown to predict axillary metastases accurately in early stage breast cancer. Some patients with locally advanced breast cancer receive preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy, which may alter lymphatic drainage and lymph node structure. In this study, we examined the feasibility and accuracy of SLN mapping in these patients and whether serial sectioning and keratin immunohistochemical (IHC) staining would improve the identification of metastases in lymph nodes with chemotherapy-induced changes. Thirty-eight patients with stage II or III breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included. In all patients, SLN biopsy was attempted, and immediately afterward, axillary lymph node dissection was performed. If the result of the SLN biopsy was negative on initial hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, all axillary nodes were examined with three additional hematoxylin and eosin sections and one keratin IHC stain. SLNs were identified in 31 (82%) of 38 patients. The SLN accurately predicted axillary status in 28 (90%) of 31 patients (three false negatives). On examination of the original hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections, 20 patients were found to have tumor-free SLNs. With the additional sections, 4 (20%) of these 20 patients were found to have occult lymph node metastases. These metastatic foci were seen on the hematoxylin and eosin staining and keratin IHC staining. Our findings indicate that lymph node mapping in patients with breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy can identify the SLN, and SLN biopsy in this group accurately predicts axillary nodal status in most patients. Furthermore, serial sectioning and IHC staining aid in the identification of occult micrometastases in lymph nodes with chemotherapy-induced changes.     

Detection of Lymph Node Micrometastases and Isolated Tumor Cells in Sentinel and Nonsentinel Lymph Nodes of Colon Cancer Patients

About 20% to 30% of colon cancer patients classified as node negative by routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining are found to have micrometastases (MM) or isolated tumor cells (ITC) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) if analyzed by step sections and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Whether SLNs are in this respect representative for all lymph nodes was addressed in this study. SLNs were identified using the intraoperative blue dye detection technique. If all lymph nodes (SLNs and non-SLNs) of a patient were negative by routine H&E staining, they were step-sectioned and analyzed by IHC using pancytokeratin antibodies. We identified at least one SLN in 47 of the 55 patients (85%) and examined a median of 26 lymph nodes per patient (range 10–59). By routine H&E staining, 14 of the 47 patients showed lymph node metastases (30%); the remaining 33 were classified as node-negative. In this group (33 patients), 1011 lymph nodes were analyzed by step sections and IHC: 14 of 70 SLNs. (20%) but only 37 of 941 non-SLNs (4%) had MM/ITC (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 13 of the 33 H&E-negative patients were found to have MM/ITC (39%). In 11 of the 13 patients, MM/ITC were identified in both SLNs and non-SLNs in 1 patient in the SLN only, and in 1 patient in a non-SLN only (sensitivity for the identification of MM/ITC: 92%; negative predictive value: 95%). The SLN biopsy is a valid tool to detect, as well as exclude, the presence of MM/ITC in colon cancer patients. Our results may be of prognostic relevance and influence patient stratification for adjuvant therapy trials.     

Validation of sentinel node mapping in patients with colon cancer

Background Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping techniques have been validated in breast cancer and melanoma. This study summarizes our experience with SLN mapping for colon cancer. Methods Fifty-five patients with colon cancer underwent intraoperative SLN mapping. One mL of 1% isosulfan blue was injected subserosally around the tumor. The first nodes highlighted with blue were identified as the SLNs. SLNs underwent multiple sectioning and immunohistochemical staining for cytokeratin. The overall learning curve was calculated. Results Lymphatic mapping adequately identified at least 1 SLN in 45 patients (82%). SLNs adequately predicted regional status in 44 of 45 (98%) cases. In 9 of 45 cases (20%), the SLNs were the only sites of metastases. Among the 14 cases that were SLN positive, 6 of 55 patients (11%) were positive only by immunohistochemistry. Of the 31 cases with negative SLNs, 1 case had a 3.5-mm pericolonic tumor-replaced non-SLN (3% false-negative rate). The overall learning curve stabilized after five cases. Conclusions Intraoperative SLN mapping is a feasible technique, with a quick learning curve, and had a reasonable SLN identification rate. Negative SLNs accurately predict the status of non-SLNs 97% of the time. Eleven percent of patients were upstaged by demonstration of micrometastases and may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.     

Practical guidelines for optimal gamma probe detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer: results of a multi-institutional study. For the University of Louisville Breast Cancer Study Group

INTRODUCTION: Multiple radioactive lymph nodes are often removed during the course of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for breast cancer when both blue dye and radioactive colloid injection are used. Some of the less radioactive lymph nodes are second echelon nodes, not true SLNs. The purpose of this analysis was to determine whether harvesting these less radioactive nodes, in addition to the "hottest" SLNs, reduces the false-negative rate. METHODS: Patients were enrolled in this multicenter (121 surgeons) prospective, institutional review board-approved study after informed consent was obtained. Patients with clinical stage T1-2, N0, M0 invasive breast cancer were eligible. This analysis includes all patients who underwent axillary SLN biopsy with the use of an injection of both isosulfan blue dye and radioactive colloid. The protocol specified that all blue nodes and all nodes with 10% or more of the ex vivo count of the hottest node should be removed and designated SLNs. All patients underwent completion level I/II axillary dissection. RESULTS: SLNs were identified in 672 of 758 patients (89%). Of the patients with SLNs identified, 403 patients (60%) had more than 1 SLN removed (mean, 1.96 SLN/patient) and 207 patients (31%) had nodal metastases. The use of filtered or unfiltered technetium sulfur colloid had no impact on the number of SLNs identified. Overall, 33% of histologically positive SLNs had no evidence of blue dye staining. Of those patients with multiple SLNs removed, histologically positive SLNs were found in 130 patients. In 15 of these 130 patients (11.5%), the hottest SLN was negative when a less radioactive node was positive for tumor. If only the hottest node had been removed, the false-negative rate would have been 13.0% versus 5.8% when all nodes with 10% or more of the ex vivo count of the hottest node were removed (P =.01). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the policy that all blue nodes and all nodes with 10% or more of the ex vivo count of the hottest SLN should be harvested for optimal nodal staging.     

Intradermal radioisotope is superior to peritumoral blue dye or radioisotope in identifying breast cancer sentinel nodes

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping and biopsy have emerged as the technique of choice for axillary staging of breast cancer. Several methods have been developed to identify SLNs, including peritumoral or intradermal injection of isosulfan blue dye or technetium sulfur colloid (TSC). We hypothesize that intradermal TSC is the optimal mapping technique and can be used alone to identify SLNs. STUDY DESIGN: From March 1997 through January 2001, 180 women with T1 and T2 invasive breast cancer and clinically negative axilla underwent SLN mapping and biopsy. Peritumoral TSC was injected in 74 patients, 62 of whom also received peritumoral blue dye. Intradermal TSC (above tumor) was performed in 94 patients, 76 of whom also received peritumoral blue dye. Technetium-rich nodes were identified intraoperatively using a hand-held gamma probe and blue nodes were identified visually. Hematoxylin- and eosin-stained SLN sections were examined by light microscopy for breast cancer metastases. RESULTS: Overall, the SLN mapping procedures were successful in 91% of patients. Peritumoral and intradermal TSC were successful in identifying SLNs in 78% and 97% of patients, respectively. Peritumorally injected isosulfan blue was successful in identifying 83% of SLNs. Intradermal TSC was found to be superior to peritumoral TSC and peritumoral blue dye in identifying SLNs (p = 0.00094, chi-squared, and p = 0.020, ANOVA). CONCLUSIONS: SLN mapping by intradermal TSC has a significantly higher success rate than peritumoral TSC or blue dye. There was minimal benefit in identifying additional SLNs with addition of peritumoral blue dye to intradermal TSC. So, SLN mapping and biopsy using intradermal-injected TSC can be used alone to effectively stage the axilla for breast cancer.     

Clinicopathologic analysis of sentinel lymph node mapping in early breast cancer

Axillary nodal status is the most significant prognosticator for predicting survival and guiding adjuvant therapy in breast cancer patients. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) represents a minimally invasive procedure with low morbidity for staging axillary nodal status. In this article we review and report our experiences in patients with early breast cancer who underwent SLNB at the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center. Between September 1998 and May 2000, a total 83 SLNBs were performed in 81 patients with proven breast cancer and negative axillary examination who elected to have SLNB as the first step of nodal staging. Two patients had bilateral breast cancer. SLNB was localized by using both 99Tc sulfur colloid (83 cases) and isosulfan blue dye (75 cases). Data of these patients were prospectively collected and analyzed. The clinical and pathologic characteristics of women with positive and negative sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were compared to identify features predictive of SLN metastasis. Of the 83 cases, the SLN was successfully localized in 82 (98.8%). Sixty-three percent of patients had SLNs found in level I only, 18.3% in both level I and II, and 4.9% in level II alone. The vast majority (84.3%) of these cases had T1 breast cancer with an average size of 1.55 cm for the entire series. Twenty-three patients (28%) had positive SLNs, with an average of 1.5 positive SLNs per patient. Fifteen had metastases detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining and 8 had micrometastases detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using anticytokeratin antibodies. Ten of the former group agreed to and 2 of the latter group opted for full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). An average of 17.5 lymph nodes were removed from each ALND procedure. Additional metastases or micrometastases were found in seven patients (in a total of 28 lymph nodes). Three patients with completely negative SLNs experienced additional axillary lymph node removal due to their election of free flap reconstruction. None had metastases detected in these lymph nodes. The absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) by IHC (p = 0.036) and the presence of lymphatic/vascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.002) predicted positive SLNs in patients with early breast cancer in a univariate analysis; in a multivariate analysis only LVI was predictive (p = 0.0125). Histologic type, nuclear grade, tumor differentiation, HER-2/neu and p53 status, S-phase fraction, and DNA ploidy did not predict SLN status. Immediate postoperative complications were uncommon and delayed complications completely absent. Because of the high detection rate, accurate staging, and minimal morbidity, SLNB should be offered as a choice to women with small breast cancers and clinically negative nodes. Because positive LVI and negative ER/PR status are highly predictive of pathologically positive SLNs in small breast cancers, women whose cancers meet these criteria should be advised preoperatively about their risk of having a positive SLN and may benefit from intraoperative assessment (frozen section and/or touch preparation) of their SLNs.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: an analysis of the maximum number of nodes requiring excision

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) is now the standard of care in assessment of patients with clinically staged T1-2, N0 breast cancers. This study investigates whether there is a maximum number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) that need to be excised without compromising the false-negative (FN) rate of this procedure. Data were prospectively collected for 319 patients undergoing SNB between February 2001 and December 2006 at our institution. This data were analysed, both in terms of the order of SLN retrieval and relative isotope counts of the SLNs, in order to determine the maximum number of SLNs that need to be retrieved without increasing the FN rate. Furthermore, we investigated the relationship between SLN blue dye concentration and the presence of SLN metastases. The SLN identification rate was 97% with no false-negative cases amongst patients undergoing simultaneous axillary clearance historically during technique validation. In patients with SLN metastases, excision of the first 4 SLNs encountered results in the identification of a metastatic SLN in all cases. Although the majority (86%) of SNB metastases are in the hottest node, the SLN containing the metastasis is in the first 4 hottest nodes in 99% of patients with nodal metastases. The remaining 1% of SLN metastases were identified by blue dye. There was no statistically significant association between the SLN blue dye concentration and the presence of SLN metastases. A policy to remove a maximum of four blue and/or hot SLNs along with any palpably abnormal lymph nodes does not result in an increased false-negative rate of detection of SLN metastases.     

Evaluation of the benefit of using blue dye in addition to radioisotope for sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with breast cancer

The techniques for performing sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) vary from institution to institution. Some advocate blue dye only, others radioisotope only, and many utilize a combination of both. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the additional benefit that blue dye provides when used in combination with a radioisotope. From October 2001 to June 2004, 102 SLNBs were attempted in 99 patients with breast cancer using a combination of blue dye and radioisotope. A lymph node was considered a sentinel lymph node (SLN) when it was stained with blue dye, had a blue lymphatic afferent, or had increased radioactivity. Ninety-eight patients had 101 successful identifications of SLNs, for an identification rate of 99%. Twenty-eight patients had positive SLNs. In three of those patients, although there were SLNs identified by both techniques, the positive SLNs were identified with only blue dye. Of the 102 SLNB procedures, there were two patients whose only SLN was identified by blue dye only. Although blue dye did not improve the identification rate, there was a definite benefit in improving the false-negative rate.     

Sentinel Node Biopsy in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Patients

Background: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is an effective and accurate method of evaluating the regional lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. The SLN is the first node that receives lymphatic drainage from the primary tumor. Patients with micrometastatic disease, previously undetected by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains, are now being detected with the new technology of SLN biopsy, followed by a more detailed examination of the SLN that includes serial sectioning and cytokeratin immunohistochemical (CK IHC) staining of the nodes.Methods: At Moffitt Cancer Center, 87 patients with newly diagnosed pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) lesions were evaluated by using CK IHC staining of the SLN. Patients with any focus of microinvasive disease, detected on diagnostic breast biopsy by routine H&E, were excluded from this study. DCIS patients, with biopsy-proven in situ tumor by routine H&E stains, underwent intraoperative lymphatic mapping, using a combination of vital blue dye and technetium-labeled sulfur colloid. The excised SLNs were examined grossly, by imprint cytology, by standard H&E histology, and by IHC stains for CK. All SLNs that had only CK-positive cells were subsequently confirmed malignant by a more detailed histological examination of the nodes.Results: CK IHC staining was performed on 177 SLNs in 87 DCIS breast cancer patients. Five of the 87 DCIS patients (6%) had positive SLNs. Three of these patients were only CK positive and two were both H&E and CK positive. Therefore, routine H&E staining missed microinvasive disease in three of five DCIS patients with positive SLNs. In addition, DCIS patients with occult micrometastatic disease to the SLN underwent a complete axillary lymph node dissection, and the SLNs were the only nodes found to have metastatic disease. Of interest, four of the five nodepositive patients had comedo carcinoma associated with the DCIS lesion, and one patient had a large 9.5-cm low grade cribriform and micropapillary type of DCIS.Conclusions: This study confirms that lymphatic mapping in breast cancer patients with DCIS lesions is a technically feasible and a highly accurate method of staging patients with undetected micrometastatic disease to the regional lymphatic basin. This procedure can be performed with minimal morbidity, because only one or two SLNs, which are at highest risk for containing metastatic disease, are removed. This allows the pathologist to examine the one or two lymph nodes with greater detail by using serial sectioning and CK IHC staining of the SLNs. Because most patients with DCIS lesions detected by routine H&E stains do not have regional lymph node metastases, these patients can safely avoid the complications associated with a complete axillary lymph node dissection and systemic chemotherapy. However, DCIS patients with occult micrometastases of the regional lymphatic basin can be staged with higher accuracy and treated in a more selective fashion.Presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of Society of Surgical Oncology, Orlando, Florida, March 4–7, 1999.     

Is the “10% Rule” Equally Valid for All Subsets of Sentinel-Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients?

Background  In breast cancer, a combination of radioisotope and blue dye mapping maximizes the success and accuracy of sentinel node (SLN) biopsy. When multiple radioactive nodes are present, there is no single definition of isotope success, but the popular “10% rule” dictates removal of all SLN with counts >10% of the most radioactive node. Here we determine how frequently a positive SLN would be missed by the 10% rule. Methods  Between 9/96 and 12/04, we performed 6,369 successful SLN biopsies using ^99mTc sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye, removing as SLN all radioactive and/or blue nodes, and taking counts from each node ex vivo. Standard processing of all SLNs with a benign frozen section included hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, serial sectioning, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results  33% of patients (2,130/6,369) had positive SLNs. Of these patients, 1,387/2,130 (65%) had >1 SLN identified. The most radioactive SLN was benign in 29% (398/1,387), and 107/1,387 (8%) had a positive SLN that was neither blue nor the hottest. From this group 1.7% (24/1387) of patients had positive SLN with counts <10% radioactive counts of the hottest node. The 10% rule captured 98.3% of positive nodes in patients with multiple SLNs. No patient characteristics were predictive of failure of the 10% rule. Conclusion  With combined isotope and blue dye mapping, the 10% rule is a robust guideline and fails to identify only 1.7% (24/1387) of all SLN-positive patients with multiple SLNs. This guideline appears to be equally valid for all subsets of patients.