Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy before sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer
Abstract
Pre-operative lymphoscintigram for axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may not be required for successful SLNB. The 117 consecutive patients who underwent SLNB had pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy. The operating surgeon was blinded to the results of the lymphoscintigram before SLNB. After SLNB was complete, the surgeon was unblinded to the results of the lymphoscintigram; re-exploration carried out if more nodes were predicted on the lymphoscintigram. 116 patients (99%) had successful SLNB before unblinding. In 85 patients (73%), operative findings corresponded with scintigraphic findings. In 26 patients (22%), the lymphoscintigram predicted more sentinel nodes than had been found; further nodes were identified and excised in only 4 patients (3%). None were positive for cancer. SLNB was successful in 99% of cases without pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy. Only 3% of patients had further nodes identified as a result of the lymphoscintigram. Pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy does not improve the ability to perform axillary SLNB during breast cancer surgery.
Keywords: Breast cancer, Sentinel lymph node biopsy, Lymphoscintigraphy
Abbreviations: SLNB, sentinel lymph node biopsy
To access this article, please choose from the options below
PII: S0960-9776(09)00118-0
doi:10.1016/j.breast.2009.10.002
© 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
