The use of touch preparation for the evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer

Background

This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of touch preparation (touch prep) in the evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs).

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 402 breast cancer patients who underwent SLN biopsy.

Results

A SLN was identified in 381 patients. Of 61 patients with a true positive result, 59 underwent axillary node dissection, and in 22 the SLN was the only node with metastases. Thirty-six (9.44%) had at least 1 false negative result. Twenty-five with a false negative results were due to macrometastases, with 17 (2.4%) false negatives occurring in patients with invasive ductal and 6 (5.5%) in those with invasive lobular histology, P = .04. Touch prep had an overall sensitivity of 62.89% and specificity of 98.94%.

Conclusions

Touch prep for the evaluation of SLNs in breast cancer compares favorably to reported results for frozen section. False negative findings are more likely with micrometastases and invasive lobular histology.