Fluorescence agent and methylene blue in sentinel lymph node biopsy for patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Objective To analyze the value of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)in predicting axillary lymph node status by injection of fluorescence agent and methylene blue. Methods 156 breast cancer patients receiving surgery from Oct. 2013 to Jun. 2014 were studied and they were randomly divided into the experimental group(n=78)and the control group(n=78). The fluorescent agent combined with methylene blue and methylene blue were used respectively as tracers for SLNB. Axillary lymph nodes dissection was made during surgery and combined with pathology the status of sentinel lymph node(SLN)metastasis was distinguished between true negative, false negative, true positive, and false positive. Results A total of 164 SLNs were detected by the method of fluorescent agent combined with methylene blue with the detection rate of 97.44%. An average of 2.10 SLNs were detected for each patient. The accuracy rate was 97.44%, the sensitivity was 97.44%, the false negative rate and the false positive rate was 0% and 0%. A total of 139 SLNs were detected by the method of methylene blue with the detection rate of 89.74%. An average of 1.78 SLNs were detected for each patient. The accuracy rate was 89.74%, the sensitivity was 89.74%, the false negative rate and the false positive rate was 10.26% and 3.85%. There was statistical difference between the two groups in the average detection number and the false negative rate(P 0.05). Conclusion Fluorescent agent combined with methylene blue as tracer for lymph nodes has the advantages of higher detection rate and less trauma, which is worth of clinical application. Key words: Breast cancer; Sentinel lymph node; Fluorescence probe; Methylene blue