Axillary recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is routinely performed as an axillary staging procedure for breast cancer. Although the reported false-negative rate approaches 10 per cent, this does not always lead to axillary recurrence. We previously reported an axillary recurrence rate of 1 per cent at a median follow-up of 2 years. Our objective is to determine the rate of axillary recurrence with longer follow-up. A retrospective review of patients with invasive breast cancer and a negative SLNB treated between 2001 and 2005 was performed. Cases where neoadjuvant therapy was used or where isolated tumor cells (ITCs) were found were included, whereas those with fewer than 18 months of follow-up were excluded. One (0.7%) out of 139 patients had an axillary recurrence after a median follow-up of 52 months. No patient who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy or with ITCs had axillary recurrence. Twelve (8.6%) patients have died, with death attributed to breast cancer in three. Our study demonstrates that axillary recurrence after SLNB remains a rare event after a median follow-up of 52 months, despite including potentially higher risk scenarios such as where neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used and ITCs are found. Therefore, axillary lymph node dissection can safely be avoided in patients where SLNB is negative.     

Lymphatic mapping in patients with breast cancer and previous augmentation mammoplasty

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is now an established method of axillary staging in patients with breast cancer. However, the augmented breast poses an interesting challenge to this procedure. We hypothesized that SLNB is feasible in patients with augmented breasts who subsequently develop breast cancer. A retrospective study was performed from 1995 to 2006. Ten patients with augmented breasts underwent breast conservation therapy with SLNB. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified in all 10 patients. Three patients had positive sentinel nodes. Two patients proceeded to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and one declined. The subsequent ALND were negative for metastatic cancer. Seven patients had negative sentinel nodes. One patient with a negative sentinel node underwent ALND with all nodes negative for metastasis. Two patients were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining eight patients, the mean duration of follow-up was 71 months. None of these patients had evidence of axillary recurrence or distant metastasis at time of last follow-up. SLNB is a feasible method of axillary node staging in patients who have undergone augmentation mammoplasty who subsequently develop breast cancer. Further studies are needed to better determine the accuracy of lymphatic mapping in this patient population.     

Second Biopsy of Axillary Sentinel Lymph Node for Reappearing Breast Cancer After Previous Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a safe and accurate axillary staging procedure for patients with primary operable breast cancer. An increasing proportion of these patients undergo breast-conserving surgery, and 5% to 15% will develop local relapses that necessitate reoperation. Although a previous SLNB is often considered a contraindication for a subsequent SLNB, few data support this concern. Methods Between January 2000 and June 2004, 79 patients who were previously treated at our institution with breast-conserving surgery and who had a negative SLNB for early breast cancer developed, during follow-up, local recurrence that was amenable to reoperation. Eighteen of these patients were offered a second SLNB because of a clinically negative axillary status an average of 26.1 months after the primary event. Results In all 18 patients (7 with ductal carcinoma-in-situ and 11 with invasive recurrences), preoperative lymphoscintigraphy showed an axillary sentinel lymph node, with a preoperative identification rate of 100%, and 1 or more SLNs (an average of 1.3 per patient) were surgically removed. Sentinel lymph node metastases were detected in two patients with invasive recurrence, and a complete axillary dissection followed. At a median follow up of 12.7 months, no axillary recurrences have occurred in patients who did not undergo axillary dissection. Conclusions Second SLNB after previous SLNB is technically feasible and likely effective in selected breast cancer patients. A larger population and longer follow-up are necessary to confirm these preliminary data.     

Lymphatic mapping improves staging and reduces morbidity in women undergoing total mastectomy for breast carcinoma

Lymphatic mapping (LM) and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) have become widely accepted in the setting of breast conservation surgery. We hypothesized that LM can be extended to women undergoing total mastectomy, being technically feasible, yielding highly accurate and sensitive results, improving axillary staging, and reducing postoperative morbidity. Between 1995 and 2003, 99 women (mean age 59 years, range 34-87) underwent 100 mastectomies with LM using blue dye alone. Fifty-nine operations (60%) were followed by a completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Ninety per cent of patients had invasive carcinoma; 10 per cent had in situ carcinoma. Mean tumor size was 2.5 cm (range 0.3-8 cm). One hundred fifty-nine sentinel nodes (SNs) (mean 1.65, range 1-5) were successfully identified in 96 (96%) axillae. Twenty-five (25%) sentinel nodes revealed nodal metastases. Five of 25 (20%) SNs had micrometasteses. Three patients had a false-negative SN, yielding a sensitivity of 91 per cent. The accuracy of LM was 97 per cent. No patient who underwent SLNB alone developed lymphedema, axillary seroma formation, infection, or restricted arm movement. This was contrasted with patients undergoing ALND, where 10 (16%) developed lymphedema and 2 (3%) developed an infection. Ten (25%) patients developed axillary paresthesias after SNB compared with 47 (78%) patients after ALND (P < 0.0001). LM in the setting of mastectomy is accurate and sensitive. This technique improves axillary staging and decreases morbidity. Patients who are not candidates for breast conservation should be offered LM and SLNB at the time of mastectomy.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy lowers the rate of lymphedema when compared with standard axillary lymph node dissection

Arm edema occurs in 20 to 30 per cent of patients who undergo axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for carcinoma of the breast. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in lieu of ALND for staging of breast cancer significantly lowers this morbidity. We hypothesized that SLNB would have a lower lymphedema rate than conventional axillary dissection. Patients who underwent SLNB were compared with those who underwent level I and II axillary node dissection. A total of 125 patients were evaluated with 77 patients who underwent SLNB and 48 patients who underwent ALND. The arm circumference 10 cm above and 10 cm below the olecranon process was measured on both arms. In this series a difference in arm circumference greater than 3 cm between the operated and nonoperated side was defined as significant for lymphedema. Lymphedema was seen in two of 77 (2.6%) patients in the SLNB group as compared with 13 of 48 (27%) ALND patients. Given the above data patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy show a significantly lower rate of lymphedema than those who had axillary lymph node dissection. This has an important impact on long-term postoperative management of patients with breast cancer.     

Axillary recurrence is low in patients with breast cancer who do not undergo completion axillary lymph node dissection for micrometastases in sentinel lymph nodes

Completion axillary lymph node dissection (CLND) is presently the standard of care after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). We hypothesize that the incidence of axillary recurrence in patients who do not undergo CLND for micrometastases is low, and CLND is not necessary for locoregional control. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with invasive breast carcinoma and micrometastases detected on SLNB. The Memorial Sloan Kettering Nomogram (MSKN) predicting the likelihood of nonsentinel lymph node (NSN) metastases was compared with the incidence of positive NSN. There were 61 patients identified with a mean follow-up of 70 months. The average tumor size was 2 cm. The median number of positive SLNs was one. Twenty-eight (46%) patients had a CLND; of these, 20 patients had one positive NSN (2 of 28 [7%]) and the mean MSKN score was 12 per cent. There were 33 (54%) patients who had SLNB alone, and their mean MSKN score was 13 per cent. Axillary recurrence in this group was 1.6 per cent. We conclude the incidence of axillary recurrence in patients with micrometastases detected by SLN biopsy who do not undergo CLND is low. The use of a predictive nomogram to estimate likelihood of metastatic disease to NSN may overestimate the actual incidence of positive NSN in patients with micrometastases.     

Does ‘fast – track’ axillary node clearance following positive core biopsy lead to overtreatment of axilla?

AimsSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the preferred axillary staging procedure, although axillary node clearance (ANC) is still indicated in subgroups of patients. This study aims to review our practice of axillary treatment in node positive cancer, to determine the proportion of patients requiring ANC and to identify if this can be avoided in some patients.MethodsRetrospective data for all breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2018 were included in this study. The histopathology results of ANC were correlated with axillary ultrasound findings, axillary biopsy or SLNB results and effect of neoadjuvant treatment. These were analysed against the available guidelines to evaluate the current practice.Results82 patients out of 520 had ANC (15.7%). Four groups were identified: Group A included 45 patients with nodal infiltration on preoperative biopsy; Group B included 24 patients with nodal infiltration who had neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT); Group C included 11 patients with involved nodes on SLNB; Group D included 2 patients with axillary recurrence. 35.5% of patients in Group A had only 1–2 positive nodes following ANC. Complete pathological response was observed in 37.5% patients following NACT. No further nodes were subsequently found in a majority of patients who underwent ANC following positive SLNB (63.6%).Conclusions15.7% of breast cancer patients required ANC. Few patients now require ANC following positive SLNB. The practice of direct (fast-track) ANC after axillary biopsy may lead to overtreatment of the axilla, which needs re-evaluation. Targeted axillary dissection could avoid unnecessary axillary dissection in patients with abnormal nodes and in patients who have received NACT.     

Sentinel lymphadenectomy accurately predicts nodal status in T2 breast cancer

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a reliable, accurate method of staging the axilla for early breast cancer. Although widely accepted for T1 lesions, its use in larger tumors remains controversial. This study was undertaken to define the role of SLNB for T2 breast cancer.

Study Design: From a prospective breast sentinel lymph node database of 1,627 patients accrued between September 1996 and November 1999, we identified 223 patients with clinical T1-2N0 breast cancer who underwent 224 lymphatic mapping procedures and SLNB followed by a standard axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Preoperative lymphatic mapping was performed by injection of unfiltered technetium 99 sulfur colloid and isosulfan blue dye. Data about patient and tumor characteristics and the status of the sentinel lymph nodes and the axillary nodes were analyzed. Statistics were performed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Two hundred four of 224 sentinel lymph node mapping procedures (91%) were successful. Median tumor size was 2.0 cm (range 0.2 to 4.8 cm). One hundred forty-five of the 204 patients had T1 lesions and 59 patients had T2 lesions. There were 92 pathologically positive axillae, 5 (5%) of which were not evident either by SLNB or by intraoperative clinical examination. The false-negative rate and accuracy were not significantly different between the two groups, but axillary node metastases were observed more frequently with T2 than with T1 tumors (p = 0.005); other factors, including patient age, prior surgical biopsy, upper-outer quadrant tumor location, and tumor lymphovascular invasion were not associated with a higher incidence of false-negative SLNB in either T1 or T2 tumors.

Conclusions: SLNB is as accurate for T2 tumors as it is for T1 tumors. Because no tumor or patient characteristics predict a high false-negative rate, all patients with T1-2N0 breast cancer should be considered candidates for the procedure. Complete clinical examination of the axilla should be undertaken to avoid missing palpable axillary nodal metastases.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer--a modified audit for surgeons in private practice.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a technique that is widely used in the management of early breast cancer. Surgeons are encouraged to validate their initial SLNB results by performing an audit in which both a SLNB and an axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) are performed. For surgeons in solo private practice this is not financially viable as the SLNB would not be paid for by the medical insurance companies. METHODS: Forty consenting patients were enrolled in the audit. The initial 5 patients (group A) were entered into a traditional audit - an ALND and a SLNB. The next 35 patients (group B) formed part of a modified audit - an axillary sample was performed if the sentinel node was negative (group B1) and an ALND if the node was positive (group B2). RESULTS: Ninety-two per cent of patients with an ipsilateral sentinel axillary node on preoperative scintigraphy had their node identified at the time of surgery. Eight patients had evidence of lymphatic spread. Two patients had parasternal sentinel nodes which were not removed. Group A had a mean of 10.8 nodes removed, group B1 5.8 nodes, and group B2 13.2 nodes. Twenty-three of 35 patients (66%) in group B were spared an axillary dissection. CONCLUSION: The modified audit of group B allowed patients to benefit from the procedure (and thus the medical aids charged) and yet permitted our team to ascertain the accuracy of the technique in our hands. We feel this is an approach that may be used by other surgeons working alone.     

Axillary recurrence rate in breast cancer patients with negative sentinel lymph node biopsy or containing micrometastases and without further lymphadenectomy: a monocentric review of 8 years and 481 cases

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has almost completely replaced complete axillary lymph node dissection (CALND) as the first-line axillary procedure for clinically node-negative early stage breast cancer. We assessed the incidence of axillary relapse in patients with negative SLNB who had no additional CALND (group 1, n = 481) and in patients whose SLNB contained micrometastases and had no further CALND (group 2, n = 45). All patients were operated on between November 1997 and December 2005 and followed at the Jules Bordet Institute. The median follow-up was 48 months. A mean of 2.2 sentinel lymph nodes was removed per patient. Axillary relapse was observed in only one patient (0.2%) in group 1 and in none of the patients in group 2. This study confirms that the axillary recurrence rate after long-term follow-up of patients with a negative sentinel lymph node is very rare, provided that the selection criteria are judicious.     

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.     

Lymphatic tumor burden negatively impacts the ability to detect the sentinel lymph node in breast cancer

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is the preferred method of nodal breast cancer staging. Techniques of SLN biopsy rely on transport of interstitial molecules through mammary lymphatics. Lymphatic flow may be disrupted by tumor emboli. Increased lymphatic tumor burden may be responsible for failure to identify the sentinel lymph node in patients with breast cancer. A prospective database of 110 patients who had SLN biopsy between January 2001 and December 2002 was analyzed. The number of metastatic axillary lymph nodes was used as a measure of lymphatic tumor burden. SLN was found in 94 per cent of cases. It was not found in seven patients; five of them had extensive axillary metastases (71%) compared to 23 per cent when SLN was found (P = 0.001). The average number of metastatic lymph nodes was larger when SLN was not found compared to when SLN was found (12.8 vs. 3.9, respectively, P = 0.002). Increasing numbers of metastatic nodes correlated with decreasing success in SLN biopsy (P = 0.075). The incidence of axillary metastases is higher in patients in whom the sentinel node is not found. High lymphatic tumor burden may have a causative role in SLN biopsy technical failure. Axillary dissection should be performed if SLN is not found, regardless of the tumor size or histology.     

Feasibility and oncological safety of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer patients with a local recurrence

ObjectivesTo investigate the role and feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer patients with a local recurrence and no clinically positive axillary lymph nodes.Materials and MethodsA total of 71 patients underwent SLNB for breast cancer recurrence. At first surgery, they had received SLNB (46.5%), axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) (36.6%) or no axillary surgery (16.9%).ResultsLymphatic migration was successful in 53 out of 71 patients (74.6%) and was significantly higher in patients with previous SLNB or no axillary surgery than in those with previous ALND (87.9% vs. 53.8%; p = 0.009). Aberrant lymphatic migration pathways were observed in 7 patients (13.2%). The surgical SLNB was successfully performed in 51 patients (71.8%). In 46 patients (90.2%) the SLN was histologically negative, in 3 patients (5.9%) micrometastastatic and in 2 patients (3.9%) macrometastatic. The 2 patients with a macrometastates in SLN underwent ALND, In 4 out of the 18 patients with failure of tracer migration ALND, performed as surgeon’s choice, did not find any metastatic node. After a median follow-up period of 39 months (range: 2–182 months), no axillary recurrence has been diagnosed.ConclusionA SLNB in patients with locally recurrent breast cancer, no previous ALND and negative axillary lymph nodes is technically feasible and impacts on the ALND rate. In patients who at primary surgery received ALND, migration rate is significantly lower, aberrant migration is frequent and no clinically useful information has been obtained.     

Probability of false negative nodal staging in conjunction with partial axillary dissection in breast cancer

There is a risk of overlooking lymph node metastases and thereby contributing to inaccurate nodal staging when performing partial axillary dissection in conjunction with total mastectomy in female breast cancer. The Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) analysed this risk in a prospective nation-wide adjuvant trial dealing with primary operable breast carcinoma. The series comprised 3114 patients, initially found to have lymph node negative axillae, followed for a median of 24 months (quartiles 12-40). It was found that the probability of early ipsilateral axillary relapse of cancer, estimated by means of the life table method, decreased with the number of nodes removed. After 2 years the recurrence rate was 12 per cent for patients with no lymph nodes removed, 7 per cent with one or two nodes removed and 2 per cent with three or more nodes removed. It is concluded that the risk of false negative nodal staging in conjunction with partial axillary dissection is modest, provided at least three lymph nodes are removed and found to be negative on histological examination.     

Abandoning sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer? A new trial in progress at the European Institute of Oncology of Milan (SOUND: Sentinel node vs Observation after axillary UltraSouND)

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard approach for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer. Recent data showed no outcome difference in patients with positive sentinel node between axillary dissection vs no further axillary surgery, raising doubts on the role of SLNB itself. Therefore, a new trial was designed comparing SLNB vs observation when axillary ultra-sound is negative in patients with small breast cancer candidates to breast conserving surgery.     

Evidence-based medicine applied to sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with breast cancer

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has not been examined using the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM). Specifically, likelihood ratios have not been used to assess the validity of SLNB.The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) public database of the National Cancer Institute was used to establish the baseline or pretest probability of finding a positive lymph axillary node for each stage of breast cancer. Rates of false negative results of SLNB for all breast cancer stages were determined from the surgical literature. Positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR) were calculated. For each stage of breast cancer, the Bayesian nomogram was used to find the post-test probability of missing a metastatic axillary node when the SLN was negative. The SEER database of 213,292 female patients with breast cancer yielded the following rates of positivity of axillary lymph nodes for each breast tumor size: T1a, 7.8 per cent; T1b, 13.3 per cent; T1c, 28.5 per cent; T2, 50.2 per cent; T3, 70.1 per cent. The combined data from 13 published studies of SLNB (6444 successful SLNBs) demonstrated a false negative rate of 8.5 per cent. The LR of a negative test is 0.086. According to the nomogram, the chances of missing a positive node for stage of cancer are as follows: T1a, 0.7 per cent; T1b, 1.5 per cent; T1c, 3.0 per cent; T2, 7 per cent; T3, 18 per cent. The risk of missing a positive axillary node can accurately be estimated for each stage of breast cancer using the LR, which is much more useful than the simple false negative rate. Surgeons should use this information when deciding whether to perform SLNB and in their informed consent discussions.     

Meta-analysis of sentinel lymph node biopsy after preoperative chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Women with breast cancer are more frequently being treated with preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) following chemotherapy has not been determined. This was a meta-analysis of studies that examined the results of SLNB after preoperative chemotherapy. METHODS: Included articles had to meet two criteria. First, patients had to have had operable breast cancer and to have undergone SLNB after preoperative chemotherapy and, second, patients had to have undergone subsequent axillary lymph node dissection. Meta-analyses were performed in which Bayesian hierarchical models were created to estimate the identification rate (IR) and sensitivity of SLNB in this setting. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were identified that included a total of 1273 patients. The IRs reported ranged from 72 to 100 per cent, with a pooled estimate of 90 per cent. The sensitivity of SLNB ranged from 67 to 100 per cent, with a pooled estimate of 88 (95 per cent confidence interval 85 to 90) per cent. Meta-analyses performed using Bayesian modelling resulted in (posterior) estimates for IR and sensitivity of 91 (95 per cent credible interval 88 to 94) and 88 (95 per cent credible interval 84 to 91) per cent respectively. CONCLUSION: SLNB is a reliable tool for planning treatment after preoperative chemotherapy.     

Sentinel node biopsy in early breast cancer. A review on recent and ongoing randomized trials

IntroductionSentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is regarded as the standard procedure for nodal staging in patients with early breast cancer. In the last decade several randomized trials have been evaluating its role and indications.Materials and methodsThis article reviews recent and ongoing randomized trials on SLNB.ResultsFour randomized controlled trials have recently shown evidence that SLNB either alone or followed by radiation therapy is effective for the management in patients with low axillary tumor burden in early breast cancer. Nine randomized controlled trials on SLNB are ongoing: four assessing its role in case of positive sentinel node, three evaluating whether SLNB itself can be omitted when the preoperative nodal imaging is negative, two are studying SLNB in the neoadjuvant setting.Discussion and conclusionSLNB either alone or with axillary radiotherapy has been shown to be non-inferior to complete axillary dissection in terms of local recurrence, disease-free survival and overall survival in early breast cancer with minimally metastatic axilla. So far, results from ongoing trials are going to confirm the appropriate treatment in patients with limited axillary nodal involvement, the role and the timing of SLNB within the neoadjuvant setting and to define whether surgery can be avoided in the axilla in early stage breast cancer patients with negative preoperative imaging.     

Subcutaneous mastectomy with immediate reconstruction as treatment for early breast cancer.

Subcutaneous mastectomy and axillary dissection combined with immediate reconstruction was used to treat primary breast cancer in a consecutive series of 111 patients. Local recurrence occurred in 19 patients (17 per cent) during a mean follow-up of 30 (range 6-60) months. Complete control of local disease was achieved in all patients except one, who had terminal disease. Prophylactic radiotherapy was avoided for 83 per cent of patients, and good cosmetic results were obtained in 89 per cent. These results support the use of this technique in the treatment of early breast cancer.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in a patient with operable breast cancer

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for a patient with operable breast cancer after undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). METHOD: Between January 2002 and December 2003, women with primary breast cancer who had a breast tumor measuring larger than 3 cm in unilateral diameter were eligible for NAC. All patients who had completed NAC underwent lymphatic mapping with labeled (99m)Tc phytate on the day before surgery. Sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by a full axillary lymph node (AXLN) dissection (ALND) was performed in all patients. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) were sent for a frozen-section examination. RESULTS: The rate of SLN identification was 71%. Both the sensitivity and negative predictive value of SLNB were 100%. The false negative rate was 0%. When candidates for SLNB were restricted to patients with a breast tumor measuring less than 3 cm and clinically negative nodes after NAC, the rate of SLN identification increased to 93% from 71% while still maintaining the 0% false negative rate. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node biopsy after NAC is therefore considered to be a feasible and accurate method to predict the AXLN status in patients who have a breast tumor measuring less than 3 cm in unilateral diameter and a clinically negative AXLN status at the time of surgery after NAC.