Determination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status in primary breast cancer by prospective use of immunohistochemistry increases the rate of micrometastases and isolated tumour cells: analysis of 174 patients after SLN biopsy.

AIM: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prospective use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for histopathological diagnosis of sentinel lymph node(s) (SLN) in primary breast cancer using stage migration and non-SLN metastases as endpoints in relation to metastatic involvement. METHOD: Serial sectioning and prospective use of IHC were applied to SLN examination in addition to routine haematoxylin-eosin staining in 174 consecutive patients with unifocal T1-T2 breast cancer included in a National Sentinel Node Study. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in all cases with macrometastases, micrometastases and isolated tumour cells (ITC). RESULTS: The SLN was found in 173/174 patients and a metastatic foci was found in 50 patients including 28/50 with macrometastases, 16/50 with micrometastases and 6/50 with ITC. IHC detected 3/16 of the micrometastases and 4/6 of ITC. Stage migration from N0 to N1mi was encountered in 3/132 patients by use of IHC. Non-SLN metastases were noted in 15/28 of patients with macrometastases and in 3/16 of patients with micrometastases, whereas no patient with ITC had additional metastases (p=0.007). CONCLUSION: The prospective use of IHC and serial sectioning for histopathological diagnosis of SLNs increased the detection rate of N1mi and ITC, but only 3/132 patients were stage-migrated by use of IHC. Patients with ITC did not have any risk of non-SLN metastases, supporting that ALND can safely be omitted in this group of patients.     

The influence of sentinel lymph node tumour burden on additional lymph node involvement and disease-free survival in cutaneous melanoma--a retrospective analysis of 392 cases

Twenty per cent of sentinel lymph node (SLN)-positive melanoma patients have positive non-SLN lymph nodes in completion lymph node dissection (CLND). We investigated SLN tumour load, non-sentinel positivity and disease-free survival (DFS) to assess whether certain patients could be spared CLND. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed on 392 patients between 1999 and 2005. Median observation period was 38.8 months. Sentinel lymph node tumour load did not predict non-SLN positivity: 30.8% of patients with SLN macrometastases (> or =2 mm) and 16.4% with micrometastases (< or =2 mm) had non-SLN positivity (P=0.09). Tumour recurrences after positive SLNs were more than twice as frequent for SLN macrometastases (51.3%) than for micrometastases (24.6%) (P=0.005). For patients with SLN micrometastases, the DFS analysis was worse (P=0.003) when comparing those with positive non-SLNs (60% recurrences) to those without (17.6% recurrences). This difference did not translate into significant differences in DFS: patients with SLN micrometastasis, either with (P=0.022) or without additional positive non-SLNs (P<0.0001), fared worse than patients with tumour-free SLNs. The 2-mm cutoff for SLN tumour load accurately predicts differences in DFS. Non-SLN positivity in CLND, however, cannot be predicted. Therefore, contrary to other studies, no recommendations concerning discontinuation of CLND based on SLN tumour load can be deduced.     

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.     

Tagging sentinel lymph nodes: a study of 100 patients with breast cancer

The aim of this study was to evaluate in breast cancer patients the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification and the sensitivity of this technique to detect node metastases. Between January and July 1997, SLNs were tracked with Evans Blue dye in 100 patients with breast cancer who then underwent complete level I/II axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). All SLNs were examined by haematoxylin–phloxin–saffron (HPS) staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) of multiple sections. The findings for the SLNs were compared with results on ANLD. Axillary SLNs were identified in 83 patients (detection rate=83%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 74–90%). Axillary SLNs were detected in 58/83 cases (70%) at level I only, and in 69/83 (83%) at levels including level I. Histologically positive axillary SLNs were found in 45% (37/83) of patients, including 2 patients with malignancy (micrometastases) detected by IHC only. The sensitivity of axillary SLN to detect axillary lymph nodes metastases was 37/39=95% (95% CI 83–99%). SLNs of the internal mammary chain (IMC) were dissected for 33 tumours of the median or inner quadrants and detected in 26/33=79% of cases (95% CI 61–91%). In our experience, the overall sensitivity of SLN identification as a predictor of node (axillary or IMC) metastases was 41/43=95% (95% CI 84–99%), confirming the usefulness of the procedure.     

Intraoperative evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes for metastatic melanoma by imprint cytology

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has revolutionized lymph node staging in patients with malignant melanoma. Intraoperative evaluation is a new addition to the SLN procedure that allows for a one-step regional lymph node dissection to be performed when the SLN biopsy findings are positive. To date, several studies have evaluated the use of intraoperative frozen sectioning to evaluate the SLN in patients with melanoma. The literature pertaining to the use of intraoperative imprint cytology (IIC) to evaluate the SLN in melanoma patients is scant and to the authors' knowledge studies published to date are relatively small. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the utility of IIC in patients undergoing SLN for melanoma. METHODS: A total of 235 SLN biopsies from 93 patients with malignant melanoma and 3 patients with atypical Spitz nevi were examined by IIC after SLN biopsy using a double indicator technique. The SLNs were bisected and a pair of imprints were made from each half. One imprint from each half was stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) whereas its counterpart was stained with Diff-Quik. Paraffin-embedded permanent sections were examined using multiple H & E stained sections from the SLNs in conjunction with immunohistochemical staining for S-100 and HMB-45 proteins. RESULTS: A total of 235 SLNs were excised from 93 patients (2.5 SLNs per patient). On a per patient basis, metastases were identified in 21 patients (23%) on permanent section evaluation. Of these 21 patients, 8 were detected by IIC (sensitivity of 38%). The negative predictive value was 85%. No false-positive results were identified (specificity of 100%). The positive predictive value was 100%. The overall accuracy of the intraoperative evaluation was 86%. Patients found to have positive SLNs by IIC went on to undergo lymphadenectomy under the same anesthetic. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity of IIC are similar to those of intraoperative frozen-section evaluation. Therefore, IIC appears to be a viable alternative to frozen sectioning when intraoperative evaluation is required. IIC evaluation of SLN makes a single surgical procedure possible for patients with malignant melanoma who are undergoing SLN.     

Accuracy of Frozen Section Analysis of Sentinel Lymph Nodes for the Detection of Asian Breast Cancer Micrometastasis - Experience from Pakistan

Background: Intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy has now become the standard of care for patientswith clinically node negative breast cancer for diagnosis and also in order to determine the need for immediateaxillary clearance. Several large scale studies confirmed the diagnostic reliability of this method. However,micrometastases are frequently missed on frozen sections. Recent studies showed that both disease free intervaland overall survival are significantly affected by the presence of micrometastatic disease. The aim of this studywas to determine the sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative frozen section analysis of sentinel lymph nodes(SLNs) for the detection of breast cancer micrometastasis and to evaluate the status of non-sentinel lymph nodes(non-SLNs) in those patients subjected to further axillary sampling. Materials and Methods: We performeda retrospective study on 154 patients who underwent SLN biopsy from January 2008 till October 2011. TheSLNs were sectioned at 2 mm intervals and submitted entirely for frozen sections. Three levels of each sectionsubmitted are examined and the results were compared with further levels on paraffin sections. Results: Overall40% of patients (62/154) were found to be SLN positive on final (paraffin section) histology, out of which 44demonstrated macrometastases (>2mm) and 18 micrometastases (<2mm). The overall sensitivity and specificityof frozen section analysis of SLN for the detection of macrometastasis was found to be 100% while those formicrometastasis were 33.3% and 100%, respectively. Moreover 20% of patients who had micrometastases inSLN had positive non-SLNs on final histology. Conclusions: Frozen section analysis of SLNs lacks sufficientaccuracy to rule out micrometastasis by current protocols. Therefore these need to be revised in order to pick upmicrometastasis which appears to have clinical significance. We suggest that this can be achieved by examiningmore step sections of blocks.     

Predictive Factors of Response to Intensive Decongestive Physiotherapy in Upper Limb Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Treatment: a Cohort Study

Summary The sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the only focus of axillary metastasis in a significant proportion of patients. In this single institutional study, clinicopathologic characteristics were investigated to determine the factors predicting the status of a SLN biopsy and the metastatic involvement of non-SLNs. Data were retrospectively reveiwed for 400 consecutive patients with clinical T1/T2 N0 breast cancer who underwent a SLN biopsy including axillary and/or internal mammary lymph nodes. The SLNs were evaluated by using the new AJCC staging criteria following multiple sectioning and immunohistochemical (IHC) analyses of nodes. The SLN contained metastases in 148 patients (38.5%) including 18 patients (12.2%) with micrometastases (≤0.2 mm) and 130 patients (87.8%) with macrometastases (>0.2 cm). Five patients had isolated tumor cells detected by IHC (≤0.2 mm, N_0i). Patients with tumor size more than 2 cm (T1, 29.8% versus T2, 51.6%; OR=2.31, 95% CI, 1.50–3.56) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI-, 30.3% versus LVI+, 51.3%; OR=2.07, 95% CI, 1.34–3.19) were more likely to have positive SLNs in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Among patients with a positive SLN biopsy, those with T2 tumors (versus T1; 63.1% versus 36.9; OR=2.93, 95% CI, 1.43–6.04), macrometastases in SLNs (versus micrometastases; 88.9% versus 11.1%; OR=8.83; 95% CI, 1.82–42.87) and extracapsular node extension (versus without extracapsular node extension; 65.4% versus 34.6%; OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.05–4.72) were more likely to have non-SLN metastases in both univariate and multivarite analyses. These results indicate that clinicopathologic factors might be helpful to select patients who were less likely to have negative SLN or non-SLNs. However, additional factors are still needed to be identified to omit surgical axillary staging.     

When is a completion axillary lymph node dissection necessary in the presence of a positive sentinel lymph node?

BackgroundThe management of the axilla in the presence of positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) remains controversial. Many centres forgo completion axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) in the presence of micrometastatic disease. The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0011 trialists argue for extending this to macrometastasis. The aim of this study was to correlate tumour burden in SLNs with that in the residual lymph node basin to determine the likelihood of residual disease in patients with micro- and macrometastasis in the SLN.MethodsPatients who underwent cALND following a positive SLN were analysed for histopathological features of the primary tumour and burden of axillary disease.ResultsOf 155 patients, 115 (74%) had macrometastases and 40 (26%) micrometastases in the SLNs. Residual axillary disease was detected in 55/155 (35%) patients with macrometastases and 4/40 (10%) with micrometastases. Generally, with increasing size of metastasis in the SLN there was an increasing risk of further disease in residual lymph nodes. Logistic regression analysis showed increased odds ratios for further disease for all groups when compared with the <2 mm (micrometastasis) SLN group.ConclusionPatients may be advised to forgo cALND where the SLN contains isolated tumour cells or micrometastasis. Recommendations for proceeding to cALND can be based on the size of metastasis in the SLN, which relates to the risk of further disease in the residual axillary lymph nodes and subsequent regional recurrence.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy with micrometastases in breast cancer: histological data and surgical implications. About a series of 201 axillary dissections after peroperative sentinel node identification

The benefit of systematic dissection of the non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) in case of micrometastases (> or = 2 mm) in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) is still being debated. The purpose of this work was to identify, from the histological characteristics of the micrometastases and the primitive tumors out of a series of 201 invasive breast carcinomas, of which 57.2% were pTl, which axillary dissection could be avoided. All cases had axillary dissection after peroperative SLN identification. The SLN were examined after fixation hy HE and immunohistochemical techniques (IHC), over their entire thickness from 2 to 3 mm-thick blocks of tissue and according to levels of histological sections with a spacing of 500 microm. The SLN were metastasized in 87/201 cases (43.3%) and in 29/8 7 cases (33.3%) it concerned micrometastases, 2/3 of which was only detected by IHC. The ability to discover micrometastases was proportional to the number of histological sections analyzed (58.6%, 82.7% and 100% of discovery with 1, 3 and 5 levels per block respectively). In 8/29 cases (27.6%) the NSLN were metastasized and in 6/8 cases it concerned macrometastases (> 2 mm). Taken separately, the characteristics of the tumors (size, histological type, grading, angioinvasion, multifocality), of the micrometastases (HE detection vs IHC detection, size, number) and of the site of injection of the radiotracer (peritumoral versus sub-areolar) did not allow us to isolate a group with micrometastases in the SLN but without metastases in the NSLN. However, the nine pT1 ductal carcinomas without angioinvasion were all NSLN negative. In conclusion, these results show that identification of micrometastases in SLN may influence the surgical decisions of re-excision, and that methodology of the pathological analysis is determinant.     

Inguinal or inguino-iliac/obturator lymph node dissection after positive inguinal sentinel lymph node in patients with cutaneous melanoma

Background

The aim of the study was to determine whether the presence of inguinal sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases smaller than 2 mm (micrometastases) subdivided according to the number of micrometastases predicts additional, non-sentinel inguinal, iliac or obturator lymph node involvement in completion lymph node dissection (CLND).

Patients and methods.

Positive inguinal SLN was detected in 58 patients (32 female, 26 male, median age 55 years) from 743 consecutive and prospectively enrolled patients with primary cutaneous melanoma stage I and II who were treated with SLN biopsy between 2001 and 2007.

Results

Micrometastases in inguinal SLN were detected in 32 patients, 14 were single, 2 were double, and 16 were multiple. Twenty-six patients had macrometastases.

Conclusions

No patient with any micrometastases or a single SLN macrometastasis in the inguinal region had any iliac/obturator non-sentinel metastases after CLND in our series. Furthermore, no patient with single SLN micrometastasis in the inguinal region had any non-sentinel metastases at all after CLND in our series. In these cases respective CLND might be omitted.     

How Much is Enough? Pathologic Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Nodes

It is well accepted that detailed analysis of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) may upstage breast cancer, but generally involves the identification of low-volume metastases (including isolated tumor cells and clusters). Although several guidelines recommend therapeutic interventions for micrometastases, there is also evidence supporting therapeutic interventions only for macrometastases. There is also evidence in support of means of regional disease control other than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The pathologic evaluation of SLNs should consider the clinical setting. Intraoperative assessment is indicated only if ALND is an immediate interventional option for SLN positivity. Generally, hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections taken at 2-mm step intervals are sufficient to disclose macrometastases, but if micrometastases are also considered in further treatment planning, smaller intervals and immunohistochemistry as well as quantitative molecular methods may also be considered.     

Accuracy of a nomogram for prediction of lymph-node metastasis detected with conventional histopathology and ultrastaging in endometrial cancer

Background:

We developed a nomogram based on five clinical and pathological characteristics to predict lymph-node (LN) metastasis with a high concordance probability in endometrial cancer. Sentinel LN (SLN) biopsy has been suggested as a compromise between systematic lymphadenectomy and no dissection in patients with low-risk endometrial cancer.

Methods:

Patients with stage I–II endometrial cancer had pelvic SLN and systematic pelvic-node dissection. All LNs were histopathologically examined, and the SLNs were examined by immunohistochemistry. We compared the accuracy of the nomogram at predicting LN detected with conventional histopathology (macrometastasis) and ultrastaging procedure using SLN (micrometastasis).

Results:

Thirty-eight of the 187 patients (20%) had pelvic LN metastases, 20 had macrometastases and 18 had micrometastases. For the prediction of macrometastases, the nomogram showed good discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.76, and was well calibrated (average error =2.1%). For the prediction of micro- and macrometastases, the nomogram showed poorer discrimination, with an AUC of 0.67, and was less well calibrated (average error =10.9%).

Conclusion:

Our nomogram is accurate at predicting LN macrometastases but less accurate at predicting micrometastases. Our results suggest that micrometastases are an ‘intermediate state'' between disease-free LN and macrometastasis.     

Rapid immunohistochemistry enhances the intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastases in invasive lobular breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The sensitivity of the intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) micrometastases and the metastases of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is low. The goal of the current study was to assess whether the use of intraoperative, rapid immunohistochistochemistry (IHC) enhances the intraoperative detection of micrometastases and metastases of ILC. METHODS: The sensitivity of the intraoperative diagnosis of SLN metastasis was evaluated in 438 patients when using rapid IHC with a cytokeratin biomarker. The results were compared with those obtained for 557 patients without rapid IHC but with conventional staining. RESULTS: For patients with ILC, the sensitivity of the intraoperative diagnosis was 87% (45 of 52) in the IHC group and 66% (39 of 59) in the non-IHC group (P = 0.02). The sensitivity of the intraoperative diagnosis was similar for patients with other types of invasive cancer regardless of the use of rapid IHC. However, rapid IHC enhanced marginally the intraoperative diagnosis of the smallest micrometastases, isolated tumor cells (P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Rapid IHC with cytokeratin labeling enhanced the intraoperative diagnosis of SLN metastases in patients with ILC. It may also improve the intraoperative diagnosis of micrometastases.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in staging small (up to 15 mm) breast carcinomas. Results from a European multi-institutional study

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has become the preferred method for the nodal staging of early breast cancer, but controversy exists regarding its universal use and consequences in small tumors. 2929 cases of breast carcinomas not larger than 15 mm and staged with SLN biopsy with or without axillary dissection were collected from the authors′ institutions. The pathology of the SLNs included multilevel hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Cytokeratin immunohistochemistry (IHC) was commonly used for cases negative with HE staining. Variables influencing SLN involvement and non-SLN involvement were studied with logistic regression. Factors that influenced SLN involvement included tumor size, multifocality, grade and age. Small tumors up to 4 mm (including in situ and microinvasive carcinomas) seem to have SLN involvement in less than 10%. Non-SLN metastases were associated with tumor grade, the ratio of involved SLNs and SLN involvement type. Isolated tumor cells were not likely to be associated with further nodal load, whereas micrometastases had some subsets with low risk of non-SLN involvement and subsets with higher proportion of further nodal spread. In situ and microinvasive carcinomas have a very low risk of SLN involvement, therefore, these tumors might not need SLN biopsy for staging, and this may be the approach used for very small invasive carcinomas. If an SLN is involved, isolated tumor cells are rarely if ever associated with non-SLN metastases, and subsets of micrometastatic SLN involvement may be approached similarly. With macrometastases the risk of non-SLN involvement increases, and further axillary treatment should be generally indicated.     

Sentinel Node Biopsy Examination for Breast Cancer in a Routine Laboratory Practice: Results of a Pilot Study

Background: Examination of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies provides accurate nodal staging for breast cancer and plays a key role in patient management. Procurement of SLNs and the methods used to process specimens are equally important. Increasing the level of detail in histopathological examination of SLNs increases detection of metastatic tumours but will also increase the burden of busy laboratories and thus may not be carried out routinely. Recommendation of a reasonable standard in SLN examination is required to ensure high sensitivity of results while maintaining a manageable practice workload. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer were recruited. Combined radiotracer and blue dye methods were used for identification of SLNs. The nodes were thinly sliced and embedded. Serial sectioning and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining against AE1/AE3 were performed if initial HandE sections of the blocks were negative. Results: SLNs were successfully identified in all patients. Ten cases had nodal metastases with 7 detected in SLNs and 3 detected only in axillary nodes (false negative rate, FNR=30%). Some 5 out of 7 metastatic lesions in the SLNs (71.4%) were detected in initial sections of the thinly sliced tissue. Serial sectioning detected the remaining two cases with either micrometastases or isolated tumour cells (ITC). Conclusions: Thin slicing of tissue to 3-5mm thickness and serial sectioning improved the detection of micro and macro-metastases but the additional burden of serial sectioning gave low yield of micrometastases or ITC and may not be cost effective. IHC validation did not further increase sensitivity of detection. Therefore its use should only be limited to confirmation of suspicious lesions. False negative cases where SLNs were not involved could be due to skipped metastases to non-sentinel nodes or poor technique during procurement, resulting in missed detection of actual SLNs.     

Low sensitivity of the touch imprint cytology of the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer patients--results of a large series

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Touch imprint cytology (TIC) was reported to be a sensitive method of intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) assessment. The objective of our study was to assess the value of the TIC as an intraoperative SLN evaluation method and to determine a subgroup of patients in whom TIC should not be indicated. METHODS: In 250 breast cancer patients with SLN biopsy, TIC of SLNs was performed intraoperatively. The results of TIC were compared to the final histopathological analysis of SLNs. A subgroup analysis of the TIC value was performed with regard to the tumor size. RESULTS: SLN metastases were found in 102/250 patients (41%). Two cases were false positive. The sensitivity of TIC was 34%, specificity 98.6%, accuracy 72%, negative predictive value 69%, and positive predictive value 95%. TIC was significantly more sensitive to detect macrometastases (32/43) compared to micrometastases or ITC (3/59) (P < 0.001). TIC was positive in only 5% (4/77) in T < 10 mm tumors compared to 18% (31/168) in T > 10 mm (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: TIC is a simple, quick, and sensitive method of intraoperative SLNs evaluation for the presence of the macrometastases. TIC has a very limited value in detecting micrometastases and no value in detecting ITC. TIC may not be indicated in T1a + b tumors.     

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。     

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.     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结CK19 mRNA和蛋白的表达

目的 探讨CK19微转移分子在乳腺癌前哨淋巴结(SLN)的表达情况及意义.方法 采用免疫组化S-P法及原位杂交技术检测66例SLN中CK19微转移分子的表达.同时与常规病检法比较其检测敏感性.并比较转移组、微转移组、无转移组患者的临床资料.结果 66例SLN在常规病理检查阴性38例淋巴结中6例表达CK19蛋白15.8%(6/38),8例21.1%(8/38)表达CK19mRNA.原位杂交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＜0.05).CK19蛋白和mRNA表达之间差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).同时乳腺癌转移组与微转移组患者在肿物大小与淋巴管浸润上有相似性,而同无转移组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 免疫组化法和原位杂交法较常规病理检查更为敏感.通过免疫组化法和原位杂交法的联合使用,可明显提高乳腺癌SLN微转移的检出率,同时也证明原位杂交法是可靠的,比免疫组化更为敏感的技术.SLN微转移有可能作为肿瘤预后的指标.