Association between Number of Retrieved Sentinel Lymph Nodes and Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

PurposeSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become a standard axillary staging surgery for early breast cancer, and the proportion of patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is decreasing. We aimed to evaluate the association between the number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) retrieved and the risk of lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm.MethodsProspectively collected medical records of 910 patients were reviewed. Lymphedema was defined as a difference in circumference > 2 cm compared to the contralateral arm and/or having clinical records of lymphedema treatment in the rehabilitation clinic.ResultsTogether with an objective and subjective assessment of lymphedema, 36 patients (6.1%) had lymphedema in the SLNB group and 85 patients (27.0%) had lymphedema in the ALND group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis of the whole cohort, risk factors significantly associated risk with the development of lymphedema were body mass index, mastectomy (vs. breast-conserving surgery), ALND, and radiation therapy. In logistic regression models in the SLNB group only, there was no correlation between the number of retrieved SLNs and the incidence of lymphedema. In addition, in the Pearson correlation analysis, no correlation was observed between the number of retrieved SLNs and the difference in circumference between the ipsilateral and contralateral upper extremities (correlation coefficients = 0.067, p = 0.111).ConclusionThe risk of lymphedema in breast cancer surgery and adjuvant treatments is multifactorial. The number of retrieved lymph nodes during sentinel biopsy was not associated with the incidence of lymphedema.     

A New Technique That Complements Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy: Lymph Node Dissection Under the Intercostobrachial Nerves in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

BackgroundArm lymphedema is a common complication after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), and there is no effective treatment. The clinical significance of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is to avoid the risk of arm lymphedema caused by ALND in cases in which the nodes are negative for cancer cells. In developed countries, sentinel lymph node (SLN) localization methods by using combined dye and radioactive tracer techniques predict the lymph node status in early-stage breast cancer with comparable success rates, accuracy, and false-negative rates. In fact, most researchers agree that the combined technique has significantly higher accuracy than marking the sentinel nodes with dye alone. In China, the radioactive tracer technique is mostly used in research but not in clinical surgery, where it is not permitted. The necessity of intercostobrachial nerves (ICBN) preservation is now accepted by the surgeons and has become the standard procedure in such dissections, which reduces postoperative skin numbness and loss of feeling in the upper arm.MethodsIn our study, the data of 177 patients were analyzed to identify the feasibility of such an assignment and potential clinical significance of ICBN in dividing the axillary space.ResultsWe found that the mean value for the number of nodes under the ICBN was enough for accession, the lymphedema caused by axillary lymph nodes dissection under the intercostobrachial nerves (PALND) was similar with SLNB and lower than ALND, and the PALND can make up for SLNB in false negative (SLNs are negative, while non-SLNs are positive).ConclusionALND under the ICBN could be considered a procedure complementary to SLNB in early-stage breast cancer in China, where the radioactive tracer technique is not widely applied.     

Patterns of Failure in Women Who Have Residual Nodal Disease After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer According to Extent of Lymph Node Surgery

BackgroundOptimal surgical management of limited axillary nodal disease following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for breast cancer is evolving. Concerns exist with respect to leaving residual disease in the axilla when omitting axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in this setting. We sought to determine whether extent of nodal surgery altered patterns of failure and patient outcomes.Patients and MethodsWe identified 70 patients with breast cancer who were confirmed cN0 after NAC yet had residual nodal disease (ypN1) on sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB). Twenty-eight patients underwent SLNB alone and 42 underwent SLNB+completion (c)ALND in a non-randomized fashion. Most (n = 65) patients underwent adjuvant regional nodal irradiation (RNI). Detailed patterns of failure data were obtained for each patient.ResultsThe median follow-up was 43.5 months. There were 30 (43%) recurrences. Of these, 5 were isolated locoregional failures, and 24 were distant failures. There were no significant differences in local (P = .13), regional (P = .62), or distant (P = .47) failure between patients who underwent SLNB alone versus SLNB+cALND. Seventeen (24%) patients died. Overall survival was similar in both groups with median overall survival not reached for those who underwent SLNB and 109 months for those who underwent SLNB+cALND (P = .45).ConclusionsThere were no differences in patterns of recurrence among patients with 1 to 3 involved lymph nodes after NAC who underwent SLNB alone versus SLNB+cALND in the setting of RNI. We await the results of ongoing, prospective clinical trials to confirm the relative merits of RNI in lieu of cALND in these patients.     

48例早期乳腺癌仅行前哨淋巴结活检术的疗效观察

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活检术（SLNB）替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术（ALND）在早期乳腺癌中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析我院行SLNB的48例早期乳腺癌患者的临床和病理资料,并与同期73例SLN阴性行ALND患者进行对比,比较两组患者的远期疗效及术后并发症情况。结果中位随访26月（2～40月）,SLNB组有1例患者于术后14月出现同侧腋窝淋巴结复发,ALND组有1例患者于术后33月出现同侧锁骨上淋巴结转移,两组淋巴结转移率分别为2.1%（1/48）和1.4%（1/73）,差异无统计学意义（P=1.000）;至随访结束,两组均未见远处转移及肿瘤所致死亡病例,总生存率均为100%。SLNB组和ALND组术后平均住院时间分别为5天（2~10天）和9天(5~16天)（P=0.004）,手术后6月时,两组患肢感觉异常发生率分别为4.2%（2/48）和71.2%(52/73)（P=0.000）,患肢水肿发生率分别为0和13.7%(10/73) （P=0.003）,差异均具有统计学意义。结论在SLN阴性早期乳腺癌中,仅行SLNB腋窝淋巴结复发率低,SLNB可以与取得ALND相同的疗效;同时,SLNB与ALND相比手术创伤小,术后并发症少。     

Comparison of survival outcomes for axillary surgery extent based on intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy result after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

Purpose

To investigate the survival difference between limited axillary surgery and full axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with 1–3 positive sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNBs) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Method

We retrospectively analyzed data from 676 patients who underwent surgery between 2007 and 2017 with cT1–4, cN0–3, cM0 breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and 1–3 positive SLNBs after NAC. The patients received either SLNB only or completed level I or II ALND based on SLNB results. After propensity score matching, 483 patients who had undergone SLNB only (n?=?188) and ALND (n?=?295) were included. We examined overall survival, axillary recurrence-free survival, regional recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival and compared them between the subgroups.

Result

At a median follow-up of 59.4 months, no significant statistical difference was observed in overall survival, axillary recurrence-free survival, regional recurrence-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival between SLNB only and ALND. No significant differences were observed in the 5-year axillary recurrence-free survival (93.1% vs. 94.0%, hazard ratio [HR]?=?0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]?=?0.43–2.05, p?=?0.876) and 5-year overall survival (97.7% vs. 97.3%, HR?=?1.65, 95% CI?=?0.58–4.65, p?=?0.347) between the two groups.

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that SLNB alone may be a possible option for patients with 1–3 sentinel node-positive breast cancer following NAC without significant compromise of recurrence or overall survival.

     

Comparing Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis with and without Completion Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Currently, the standard method for staging and treatment of axillary lymph nodes for early-stage breast cancer is sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), while axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is used in cases with palpable axillary lymph nodes or positive SLNB cases. The aim of this review was to compare overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and axillary recurrence in early-stage breast cancer patients underwent SLNB or SLNB and completion ALND. Methods: The databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched using the key words of “breast cancer”, “axillary lymph node dissection”, and “sentinel lymph node dissection”. In addition, other sources were searched for ongoing studies (i.e., clinicaltrials.gov). The clinical trials were evaluated based on the Jadad quality criteria, and cohort studies were evaluated according to the STROBE criteria. At the end of the search, the articles were screened independently by two reviewers to check their eligibility to be included in the study. Afterwards, the data were extracted independently by two researchers. Results: After searching the databases, 169 papers were retrieved. However, after removing the duplicates and studying the titles and abstracts of these papers, only ten ones underwent further investigation. After reading full-text of each article, four studies were finalized. Following a manual search, 27 papers were entered into the study for the final evaluation, 11 of which were included in the meta-analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings showed no significant differences in OS, DFS, and axillary recurrence in early-stage breast cancer patients underwent SLNB or SLNB and completion ALND. Conclusion: The findings did not confirm that ALND improved OS, DFS, and axillary recurrence in patients who were clinically node-negative and positive SLNB.     

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Alone after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Initial Cytology-Proven Axillary Node Metastasis

Purpose

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) has been recently used to downstage breast cancer. However, in patients with initial axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis, ALN dissection regardless of the NAC response remains the standard treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after NAC in patients with ALN metastasis at diagnosis.

Methods

From January 2007 to August 2013, data of patients who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and ALN metastasis and treated with NAC followed by definitive surgery in two centers were collected retrospectively. A total of 386 patients were enrolled and classified into five groups according to surgical procedure for the ALNs and pathologic results.

Results

At SLNB after NAC, sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) that stained blue or were hot, including suspicious nodes, were identified; the SLN identification and false-negative rates was 96% and 10%, respectively. There was no difference in the overall survival among the groups. For patients who revealed a pathologic complete node response, there was a significant difference in the disease-free survival rate between the SLNB only and complete ALN dissection groups (p=0.031). However, the rate of axillary recurrence demonstrated no significant differences among the groups (p>0.050).

Conclusion

SLNB after NAC in breast cancer patients with initial ALN metastasis may help identify downstaging to negative nodal status and thereby reduce the surgical morbidity by avoiding standard ALN dissection.     

早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检在简化腋清扫中的应用研究

[目的]探讨早期乳腺癌患者行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）为阴性,行简化腋窝淋巴结清扫替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术（ALND）的临床效果。[方法]采用1%亚甲蓝染色法对65例早期乳腺癌患者行SLNB,60例成功行SLNB,其中40例SLN无转移者行简化腋窝淋巴结清扫术（简化组）;20例SLN有转移者行ALND（标准组）,比较两组患者术后上肢并发症的发生情况、腋窝复发及全身转移情况。[结果]简化组手术时间和腋窝引流时间比标准组明显缩短,有统计学差异（P〈0.01）;简化组术后患侧上肢的疼痛、肿胀、麻木症状明显较标准组少（P〈0.01）。两组生存曲线没有差异。[结论]亚甲蓝染色法能够比较准确地定位乳腺癌的前哨淋巴结。简化ALND替代ALND手术时间和术后引流时间缩短,方便可行,并发症明显减少,腋窝复发率低,是早期乳腺癌患者的安全分期手术。     

早期乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检替代腋窝淋巴结清扫的临床应用研究

目的 对前哨淋巴结活检(sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB)替代腋窝淋巴结清扫(axillary lymph node dis-section,ALND)在早期乳腺癌患者中的应用以及安全性研究及探讨.方法 回顾性分析行SLNB和ALND手术的503例早期乳腺癌病例,对患者住院时间、拔管时间及住院费用进行对比,以及对患者上肢并发症、腋窝局部复发及远处转移情况进行随访,随访至2016年06月,中位随访时间为32(6 ～52)个月.结果 在住院时间、拔管时间、住院费用以及上肢并发症方面,SLNB组明显优于ALND组,差异有统计学意义,而在腋窝局部复发及远处转移情况方面两组无统计学意义.结论 在SLN阴性早期乳腺癌中,SLNB与ALND可以取得相同的疗效,而且,SLNB与ALND相比,手术创伤小,麻木疼痛、肩关节活动受限等术后并发症明显减少,且可缩短患者住院时间,减轻患者的经济负担.     

Sentinel Node Biopsy After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Cytologically Proven Node-Positive Breast Cancer

IntroductionSeveral studies have assessed the feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after NAC in patients with breast cancer, but diagnostic accuracy has varied. We prospectively evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of SLNB in detecting axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases after NAC in patients with cytologically proven positive nodes before chemotherapy.Patients and MethodsWe studied 95 breast cancer patients with cytologically proven positive nodes and a partial or complete clinical response to NAC in the breast lesions confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging. Patients then underwent SLNB followed by ALN dissection. The identification rate of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) and the false negative rate of nodal metastases were assessed. Subgroup analysis was conducted according to several clinical factors.ResultsSLNs were successfully identified in 81 (85.3%) of the 95 patients. Among these 81 patients, 51 (63.0%) had ALN metastases on final pathologic examination after NAC. Eight of the 51 patients with ALN metastases had negative results on SLNB (false negative rate, 15.7%). Univariate analysis indicated that the false negative rate was significantly lower only in the HER2-negative group (P = .003).ConclusionSLNB after NAC did not correctly predict the presence or absence of axillary node metastases in patients with breast cancer who had cytologically proven positive nodes before NAC. However, the diagnostic accuracy might be different in cancer subtypes, therapeutic effect of chemotherapy, or sentinel lymph node status after chemotherapy. Well-powered studies are needed to confirm diagnostic accuracy of SLNB after NAC according to subgroup in patients with breast cancer.     

Surgical Management of the Axilla in Invasive Lobular Carcinoma in the Z1071 Era: A Propensity-Score Matched Analysis of the National Cancer Database

In patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and clinically positive nodes (cN1) who demonstrate an axillary clinical response to neoadjuvant-chemotherapy (NAC), the outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) compared to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) are not well studied. We sought to evaluate axillary surgery practice patterns and the resultant impact on overall survival (OS) in cN1 ILC. The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was queried (2012–2017) for women with cN1 ILC who were treated with NAC followed by surgery. Propensity-score matching was performed between SLNB and ALND cohorts. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of OS. Of 1390 patients, 1192 were luminal A ILCs (85.8%). 143 patients (10.3%) had a complete axillary clinical response, while 1247 (89.7%) had a partial clinical response in the axilla. Definitive axillary surgery was SLNB in 211 patients (15.2%). Utilization of SLNB for definitive axillary management increased from 8% to 16% during the study period. Among 201 propensity-score matched patients stratified by SLNB vs. ALND, mean OS did not significantly differ (81.6 ± 1.8 vs. 81.4 ± 2.0 months; p = 0.56). Cox regression analysis of the entire cohort demonstrated that increasing age, grade, HER2+ and triple-negative tumors, and partial clinical response were unfavorable OS predictors (p < 0.02 each). The definitive axillary operation and administration of adjuvant axillary radiation did not influence OS. In cN1 ILC patients with a clinical response to NAC in the axilla, SLNB vs. ALND did not affect OS. Further axillary therapy may be warranted with ypN+ disease.     

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.     

乳腺癌前哨体淋巴结活检的研究

前哨淋巴结(SLN)的概念和前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)的应用是在1977年被提出的,但由于当时淋巴结检测设备和技术尚不先进,使SLN的研究未能得到足够的重视.乳腺癌SLNB是在20世纪90年代兴起的,现已成为乳腺癌外科领域的研究热点,有望在早期乳腺癌治疗中取代常规的腋窝淋巴结解剖(ALND),降低上肢淋巴水肿和功能障碍的发生率.我国该项目研究起步较晚,目前已逐渐成为人们关注的热点.该项目还将继续进行多中心、大样本、前瞻性研究,最终达成共识,将给乳腺癌病人带来福音.     

Minimal axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer has different prognostic implications according to the staging procedure

It is still controversial whether the identification of micrometastases and isolated tumor cells in the axillary lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer has any prognostic value. We evaluated the prognostic role of isolated tumor cells and micrometastases in the axillary lymph nodes in 3,158 consecutive patients pT1-2 pN0-N1mi (with a single involved lymph node) and M0, referred to the Division of Medical Oncology after surgery performed at the European Institute of Oncology from April 1997 to December 2002. Median follow-up was 6.3 years (range 0.1–11 years). Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) were performed in 2,087 and 1,071 patients, respectively. A worse metastasis-free survival was observed for patients with micrometastatic disease compared to node-negative patients, if staged with ALND (log-rank P < .0001; HR: 3.17; 95% CI 1.72–5.83 at multivariate analysis), but not for patients who underwent SLNB (log-rank P = 0.36). The presence of a single micrometastatic lymph node is associated with a higher risk of distant recurrence as compared to node-negative disease only for patients undergoing ALND for staging purposes. Treatment recommendations for systemic therapy should not take into account the presence of a single micrometastatic lymph node identified during complete serial sectioning of sentinel node(s).     

Feasibility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Patients with Initial Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis after Primary Systemic Therapy

Purpose

Primary systemic therapy (PST) downstages up to 40% of initial documented axillary lymph node (ALN) metastases in breast cancer. The current surgical treatment after PST consists of breast tumor resection and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). This strategy, however, does not eliminate unnecessary ALND in patients with complete remission of axillary metastases. The aim of this study was to examine the accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after PST among patients with documented ALN metastasis at presentation and to identify the rate of pathologic complete-remission (CR) with ALN after PST.

Methods

We analyzed 66 patients with ALN metastasis that was pathologically proven preoperatively who underwent SLNB and concomitant ALND after PST. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) was used to evaluate the clinical response of initially documented ALN metastasis after PST. Intraoperative lymphatic mapping was performed using blue dye with or without radioisotope.

Results

After PST, 34.8% of patients had clinical CR of ALN on AUS and 28.8% patients had pathologic CR of ALN. The overall success rate of SLNB after PST was 87.9%, and the sentinel lymph node identification rate in patients with clinical CR was 95.7%. In patients with successful lymphatic mapping, 70.7% of patients had residual axillary metastases. The overall accuracy and false-negative rate were 87.9% and 17.1% in all patients: 95.5% and 10.0% in patients with clinical CR of ALN, and 83.3% and 19.4% in patients with residual axillary disease after PST.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that SLNB may be feasible in patients with initial documented ALN metastasis who have clinical CR for metastatic ALN after PST. Further investigation in a prospective setting should be performed to confirm our results.     

Morbidity after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

AIM: In this study, the short-term and long-term morbidity was assesed after axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with or without completion axillary lymph node dissection (SLNB/ALND) in patients with cutaneous melanoma. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2003, 119 axillary SLNBs were performed for cutaneous melanoma. Fifty-eight patients met the inclusion criteria and entered the study. RESULTS: Forty-four patients underwent SLNB alone and 14 patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection after positive SLNB. Complications after SLNB alone: post-operative bleeding (n=2), seroma (n=1) and slight lymphedema 11%. Complications after SLNB/ALND: wound infections (n=2), seroma (n=5) and slight lymphedema 7%. There were differences between the two groups in short-term complications (p<.001) and functional limitations of the shoulder (p=.011). CONCLUSION: Axillary SLNB alone had a low complication rate. However, SLNB followed by completion ALND was associated with an increased risk of short- and long-term complications.     

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。     

Axillary recurrence in sentinel lymph node-negative breast cancer patients

BackgroundSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was developed to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the treatment of breast cancer. SLNB is predictive of axillary node status. Major concern is the occurrence of a false-negative SLN. Purpose of this study is to determine the rate of axillary recurrence in our series of unselected patients.Patients and methodsAll patients with a negative SLNB from November 1999 to December 2006 have been treated and followed at our unit. Information on patients' characteristics, treatment and follow-up has been collected.ResultsEight-hundred and four patients with negative SLNB did not receive ALND. After a median follow-up of 38.8 months, 21 patients had distant metastases, four had axillary relapse, nine had an in-breast recurrence and two had both. All patients with axillary recurrence received axillary dissection and systemic adjuvant therapy. They are all presently alive and free from disease.ConclusionData from this series, the largest from a general hospital, showed that isolated axillary node recurrence after negative SLNB is rare (<1%) and comparable with those reported from referral cancer institutions. We confirm that SLNB for the treatment of early breast cancer patients of a community-based hospital is safe and reliable.     

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.