Extra-axillary Sentinel Nodes Research Articles

Detection of Sentinel Lymph Nodes During Breast Cancer Surgery: A Literature Overview

Introduction. Detecting metastases is an important part of successful breast cancer treatment. Usually, the tumor tissue first spreads to the sentinel lymph nodes. Removal of the latter during surgery and histological examination allows to assess the patient’s di­sease stage, prognosis and treatment. The literature provides more than one approach or a combination of them, allowing us to accurately identify the breast’s sentinel lymph nodes and avoid removing all axillary lymph nodes. Purpose. To review the methods of intraoperative detection of breast sentinel lymph nodes presented in the literature. Research material and methods. Publications were searched using the specialized information search system Google Scholar. Keywords used in the search: breast sentinel lymph nodes, intraoperative detection. After evaluating the exclusion criteria, the review was based on 25 scientific publications. Results. 4 individual measures and 2 combinations of them can be used to detect sentinel breast lymph nodes during surgery. The materials used can be injected in 6 different ways. Conclusions. The combination of technetium-99m radiocolloid and methylene blue can be evaluated as the best method for intraoperative detection of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. On the other hand, due to radiation and operating costs, more attention is being paid to the use of indocyanine green, superparamagnetic iron oxide, methylene blue dye, and the detection of metastases without surgery. Superficial methods of injecting the substance should be combined with deep ones due to the possibility of detecting extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes of the breast. Ultimately, all decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis.

Predictive risk factors for sentinel lymph node nonvisualization on planar lymphoscintigraphy using an intratumoral injection in patients with primary breast cancer.

Lymphoscintigraphy is considered a useful tool to optimize sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification. Nonvisualization of the SLN is associated with a lower SLN identification rate. The aim of this study was to identify preoperative factors associated with SLN nonvisualization on lymphoscintigraphy. A total of 2050 consecutive SLN procedures were evaluated from clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. Planar lymphoscintigraphy was performed at 3 h after an intratumoral injection of technetium-99m-nanocolloid. This technique was used for extra-axillary SLN identification. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were analyzed for association with SLN nonvisualization. Factors with a P-value less than 0.1 in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate logistic regression model. The SLN visualization rate was 86.7%. In multivariate logistic regression, age of at least 70 years [odds ratio (OR): 3.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.14-4.91)], BMI of at least 30 (OR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.39-2.69), T3/T4-tumors (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.37-5.32), medially/centrally located tumors (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.17-1.99), previous mantle field radiation (OR: 4.04; 95% CI: 1.74-9.35), nonpalpable tumors (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 1.36-2.60), and presence of iodine seeds (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.02-1.78) were associated significantly with nonvisualization on lymphoscintigraphy. Nonvisualization was the strongest independent predictor of unsuccessful intraoperative SLN identification (P<0.001). Overall, the SLN identification rate was 97.7% because of the use of additional imaging and blue dye. This study reports new tumor and treatment-related risk factors for nonvisualization on lymphoscintigraphy by using an intratumoral injection in primary breast cancer. We recommend a periareolar subcutaneous injection to improve SLN visualization in patients with limited prognostic and therapeutic relevance of internal mammary chain SLN identification.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer: review on various methodological approaches.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been accepted as a standard procedure for early stage breast cancer. In this retrospective analysis, the results obtained with different methodological approaches using radiocolloid with or without blue dye were examined. A total of 158 sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed in 152 patients. Group A (85 patients) underwent lymphatic mapping using a combination of periareolar intradermal radiocolloid and subareolar blue dye injections. Group B (73 patients) underwent only periareolar intradermal radiocolloid injection. One large tin colloid and two small radiocolloids (nanocolloid of serum albumin -NC- and colloidal rhenium sulphide -CS-) were used. Successful lymphatic mapping was attained in 157 of 158 procedures (99.4%). Radiocolloids localized sentinel lymph nodes in 99.4% and blue dye in 75.3% of the cases. The number of sentinel lymph nodes removed was greater in nanocolloid and colloidal rhenium sulphide groups (P ≤0.05). Among 60 metastatic sentinel lymph nodes, frozen section analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining failed to detect 1 macro- and 10 micrometastasis. Radiocolloid uptake was higher in sentinel lymph nodes accumulating blue dye (1643 ± 3216 counts/10 sec vs 526 ± 1284 counts/10 sec, P <0.001). Higher count rates were obtained by using larger sized colloids (median and interquartile range: tin colloid, 2050 and 4548; nanocolloid, 835 and 1799; colloidal rhenium sulphide, 996 and 2079; P = 0.01). Only 2 extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes were visualized using periareolar intradermal injection modality. Radiocolloids were more successful than blue dye in sentinel lymph node detection. More sentinel lymph nodes were harvested with small colloids, but different sized radiocolloids were similarly successful. Sentinel lymph nodes having higher radiocolloid uptake tended to accumulate blue dye more frequently. Sentinel lymph nodes manifested higher count rates when a larger colloid was used. Frozen section was very successful in detecting macrometastatic disease in sentinel lymph nodes, but the technique failed in most of the micrometastates.

Prevalence and clinical significance of supra- or infraclavicular drainage on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in women with breast cancer.

Preoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping by lymphoscintigraphy is helpful to evaluate extra-axillary SLNs over a wider range than the blue dye method. However, the clinical value of extra-axillary SLNs remains uncertain. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of supra- or infraclavicular drainage on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy in women with breast cancer. We retrospectively reviewed the files of 942 consecutive breast cancer women who underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy for SLN biopsy at our institution between April 2004 and March 2015. Supra- or infraclavicular drainage was detected in 5/942 women (0.5%) on preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. An axillary hot spot was detected in all five women, and a positive axillary SLN was detected in four women. Breast tumor locations were the upper inner or outer quadrants in four women and the lower outer quadrant in one woman. The median follow-up period was 75 months (mean: 92; range: 26-111 months). Recurrence outside the axilla was found in three (60%) women. The woman with a negative SLN status did not undergo adjuvant chemotherapy, but developed extra-axillary lymph node recurrence 3 years after primary surgery. No patient died of metastatic breast cancer at the last follow-up. The detection of the supra- or infraclavicular SLNs on lymphoscintigraphy may provide additional staging information to tailor individual treatment regimens with regard to the potential risk of recurrence or metastasis of breast cancer.

Abstract P3-01-07: Second axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast tumor recurrence: Instituto Alexander Fleming experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) is the standard technique for axillary staging of patients with operable breast cancer and a clinically negative axilla because it avoids unwarranted axillary dissection and consequently reduces postoperative morbidity. Purpose: The aim of this study is to determinate the feasibility and accuracy of the second SLNB for patients with ipsilateral breast cancer recurrences with clinically negative axilla, who were treated previously with breast surgery and study of the axilla. Methods: Retrospective review of the database of the Instituto Alexander Fleming. Between October 2009 and October 2014, 1029 patients with diagnosis of breast cancer required surgery. The study included 26 patients with the diagnosis of operable local breast cancer recurrence, who had previously undergone axillary surgery either as SLNB, sampling or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). They subsequently underwent additional breast surgery and a second SLNB. Results: The mean age of the ipsilateral breast cancer recurrences was 59.23 years (range: 32-87) and the most common histologic subtype was invasive ductal carcinoma in 22 patients (84.6%) and 4 patients (15.4%) with invasive lobular carcinoma. 4 patients (15.4%) had previously ALND or sampling and 22 patients (84.6%) SLNB. The identification rate of the second SLNB was 92.31%. Only 2 patients were not identify, one patient with a previous axillary sampling and another one with previous SLNB. In those patients the ALND was performed and the axilla was negative. Lymphoscintigraphy failed to identify any SLN in 6 patients (23%), 2 patients which were not identify and 4 patients only detected with patent blue. The average number of nodes removed at second SLNB was 1.8 (range: 1-5). Second SLNBs were negative in 21 patients (80.8%), and macrometastasis disease was identified in 2 patients and complete ALND was performed. In 1 patients additional extra-axillary aberrant drainages was observed in the contralateral axilla and interpectoral, and other 3 patients had aberrant drainage in the contralateral axilla (1 patient), internal mammary regions (1 patient), and interpectoral (1 patient). Aberrant drainage pathways were not routinely dissected. Only those accessible during surgery were removed. The median time between first surgery and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence was 7.19 years (range: 1-22). The disease free survival (DFS) was 9.16 years (range: 2.25-24). Conclusion: In the present serie we show a high identification rate of 92.31% in the second SLNB, comparable with other international series published in the literature (range: 51-97%). A second SLNB should be considered for patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence who underwent conservative surgery and have clinically negative axilla. The procedure is technically feasible and accurate for selected patients, and avoids unnecessary ALND. Extra-axillary sentinel lymph node localization rates are higher than for primary SLNB but the clinical significance and management of extra-axillary nodes needs to be clarified. Citation Format: Maino M, Fabiano V, Ponce C, Loza M, Costanzo V, Nervo A, Nadal J, Mysler D, Amat M, Coló F, Loza J, Chacón R. Second axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast tumor recurrence: Instituto Alexander Fleming experience in Buenos Aires, Argentina. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-01-07.

Controverse : est-il nécessaire de faire des images (lymphoscintigraphies) pour repérer le ganglion sentinelle dans le cancer du sein ?

In breast cancer, searching for sentinel node have tended to replace routine axillary dissection for lymph node staging for about 25 years. The search of the sentinel node is indicated in patients suffering from a tumor less than 3 cm without clinically palpable axillary lymph node. Following the isotope injection, looking at the sentinel node is typically done by the surgeon with its probe intraoperatively. However, lymphoscintigraphy frequently guide the surgeon in his gesture and can accelerate the surgical procedure. The realization of planar images is usually sufficient to conclude on the location of the sentinel node. However, there are a few number of complex cases for which a SPECT/CT may be necessary. For example this may be indicated for false negatives, atypical drainage situations or difficult to interpret, extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes or located near the injection sites. Hybrid imaging brings benefits for difficult cases because of a better spatial resolution, sensitivity, contrast resolution and the contribution of anatomical images. It thus allows a better surgical approach. Like any hybrid imaging it leads to an increase of cost and time of acquisition and additional irradiation even if low. Therefore it should be restricted to some difficult cases for which no consensus have been reached so far, but which seem similar from one team to another.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer: Review on Various Methodological Approaches

Sentinel lymph node biopsy has been accepted as a standard procedure for early stage breast cancer. In this retrospective analysis, the results obtained with different methodological approaches using radiocolloid with or without blue dye were examined. A total of 158 sentinel lymph node biopsies were performed in 152 patients. Group A (85 patients) underwent lymphatic mapping using a combination of periareolar intradermal radiocolloid and subareolar blue dye injections. Group B (73 patients) underwent only periareolar intradermal radiocolloid injection. One large tin colloid and two small radiocolloids (nanocolloid of serum albumin -NC- and colloidal rhenium sulphide -CS-) were used. Successful lymphatic mapping was attained in 157 of 158 procedures (99.4%). Radiocolloids localized sentinel lymph nodes in 99.4% and blue dye in 75.3% of the cases. The number of sentinel lymph nodes removed was greater in nanocolloid and colloidal rhenium sulphide groups (P ≤0.05). Among 60 metastatic sentinel lymph nodes, frozen section analysis using hematoxylin and eosin staining failed to detect 1 macro- and 10 micrometastasis. Radiocolloid uptake was higher in sentinel lymph nodes accumulating blue dye (1643 ± 3216 counts/10 sec vs 526 ± 1284 counts/10 sec, P <0.001). Higher count rates were obtained by using larger sized colloids (median and interquartile range: tin colloid, 2050 and 4548; nanocolloid, 835 and 1799; colloidal rhenium sulphide, 996 and 2079; P = 0.01). Only 2 extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes were visualized using periareolar intradermal injection modality. Radiocolloids were more successful than blue dye in sentinel lymph node detection. More sentinel lymph nodes were harvested with small colloids, but different sized radiocolloids were similarly successful. Sentinel lymph nodes having higher radiocolloid uptake tended to accumulate blue dye more frequently. Sentinel lymph nodes manifested higher count rates when a larger colloid was used. Frozen section was very successful in detecting macrometastatic disease in sentinel lymph nodes, but the technique failed in most of the micrometastates.

Sentinel node biopsy in patients with breast cancer and previous breast surgery

Aim The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy for lymph node staging in patients with breast cancer and prior breast surgery, considering its extension, localization and time since the previous surgical procedure. Materials and methods A sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 38 patients with early breast cancer and previous breast surgery: recent excisional biopsy in 22 patients (Group I), previous lumpectomy or mammoplasty in 16, including one case of cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (tumor recurrence). Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after periareolar injection, also sometimes adding an injection near to the surgical scar. After removing the sentinel node, axillary lymph node dissection was performed when the lymph node was positive (and not localized). Results The efficacy of the scintigraphic localization of the sentinel node was 92.1% of the patients, with 15.8% of extra-axillary drainages. Axillary intraoperative detection was 81.6%. The identification rate after recent excisional biopsy or previous surgery was similar (81.8 vs 81.2%). However, extra-axillary sentinel nodes were more frequent in Group II (9.1 vs 25%). Having a localization of previous surgical procedures in upper outer quadrant caused drainages outside of the axilla more frequently (27.2 vs 11.1%). Axillary detection rate was similar to other quadrants (81.8 vs 81.5%). The rate of breast cancer-related events was 5.2% (2/38), without axillary recurrences (mean follow-up: 3 years). Conclusion Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with previous but not extensive breast surgery is safe. Extra-axillary drainages are more common when the previous surgical area was wide, especially in the upper-outer quadrant.

Biopsia de ganglio centinela en pacientes con cáncer de mama y cirugía mamaria previa

Aim The aim of this study was to establish the efficacy and safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy for lymph node staging in patients with breast cancer and prior breast surgery, considering its extension, localization and time since the previous surgical procedure. Material and methods A sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 38 patients with early breast cancer and previous breast surgery: recent excisional biopsy in 22 patients (Group I), previous lumpectomy or mammoplasty in 16, including one case of cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery (tumor recurrence). Lymphoscintigraphy was performed after periareolar injection, also sometimes adding an injection near to the surgical scar. After removing the sentinel node, axillary lymph node dissection was performed when the lymph node was positive (and not localized). Results The efficacy of the scintigraphic localization of the sentinel node was 92.1% of the patients, with 15.8% of extra-axillary drainages. Axillary intraoperative detection was 81.6%. The identification rate after recent excisional biopsy or previous surgery was similar (81.8 vs 81.2%). However, extra-axillary sentinel nodes were more frequent in Group II (9.1 vs 25%). Having a localization of previous surgical procedures in upper outer quadrant caused drainages outside of the axilla more frequently (27.2 vs 11.1%). Axillary detection rate was similar to other quadrants (81.8 vs 81.5%). The rate of breast cancer-related events was 5.2% (2/38), without axillary recurrences (mean follow-up: 3 years). Conclusion Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with previous but not extensive breast surgery is safe. Extra-axillary drainages are more common when the previous surgical area was wide, especially in the upper-outer quadrant.

SPECT/CT for preoperative sentinel node localization

The value of SPECT/CT for detection and localization of sentinel nodes is reviewed. SPECT/CT depicts extra sentinel nodes and identifies non-nodal tracer accumulation. SPECT/CT is indicated in patients with complex lymphatic drainage as often present in patients with head, neck and scapular melanoma, breast cancer patients with extra-axillary sentinel nodes and patients with tumors draining to pelvic nodes. SPECT/CT also clarifies the drainage pattern of inconclusive conventional images (non-visualization or unclear location of the nodes).

¡En guardia, centinela!

Injection technique and radiocolloid size are two critical parameters that must be carefully selected according to patient presentation and lesion appearance for accurate sentinel node detection in breast cancer. Scintigraphic detection and intraoperative localization are dependent on these parameters. The present clinical case illustrates how much deep intralesional tracer injection bears on our capacity to detect extra-axillary sentinel nodes and how the use of smaller-size radiocolloids may sometimes facilitate sentinel node detection.

Estudio comparativo de la técnica del ganglio centinela entre los casos de carcinoma de mama multifocal y unifocal

Objective To evaluate the results for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in patients with multifocal breast cancer (MBC) in comparison to in those with unifocal breast cancer (UBC). Patients and methods A total of 1535 prospective SNB (174 on patients with MBC) were performed at 9 hospitals. In most patients, Tc-99 m albumin colloids were injected intraparenchymally into each tumoral focus for SNB. Results The overall identification rate was 93.8%; no differences between groups were observed (94.8% in MBC vs 93.4% in UBC). The mean number of sentinel nodes detected was 1.46, being higher in the MBC group than in the UBC group (1.58 vs 1.45; p=0.036). Extra-axillary sentinel nodes were found in 19.6%; extra-axillary sentinel nodes were more common in the MBC group (23.4% vs 18.9%, ns) and in the internal mammary chain and in level III axillary lymph nodes. The incidence of sentinel node metastasis was 27.3% (29.1% MBC vs 26.7% UBC, ns), and the mean number of positive sentinel nodes was 0.42 in the MBC group vs 0.32 in the UBC group ( p=ns). Axillary dissection identified the same rate of positive additional nodes (29.7%) in both groups. Conclusions The diagnostic yield of SNB seems similar in MBC and UBC. In MBC, there appears to be a specific pattern of lymphatic drainage, with a higher number of sentinel nodes detected and probably a higher number of extra-axillary sentinel nodes.

Breast Cancer Patients with Extra-Axillary Sentinel Nodes Only may be Spared Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

In breast cancer patients with only extra-axillary sentinel nodes, surgeons typically perform axillary node dissection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our approach to spare such patients further dissection based on the hypothesis that a sentinel node is not necessarily located in the axilla. Between March 11, 1999 and March 5, 2008, 1,949 breast cancer patients underwent lymphatic mapping with preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative use of a gamma-ray detection probe and patent blue dye. The tracers were injected into the tumors. Eighty-two of the 1,949 patients had only extra-axillary drainage on their lymphoscintigrams. A sentinel node was harvested from the axilla in 62 patients but not in the remaining 20 patients. No axillary lymph nodes were removed in 4 of these 20 patients, suspicious palpable nodes were excised in another 4 patients, and node sampling was done in the remaining 12. These nodes were all free of disease. All sentinel nodes outside the axilla were removed. Two patients had a metastasis in an internal mammary chain node. No lymph node recurrences were detected in or outside the axilla in any of the 20 patients with a median follow-up time of 49 months. 4% of the patients have only extra-axillary drainage on preoperative lymphoscintigrams. It is worthwhile to explore the axilla since a sentinel node can be found in three-quarters. In the remaining 1% without axillary sentinel nodes, axillary sampling seems unnecessary and the approach to refrain from axillary dissection appears valid.

The hidden sentinel node and SPECT/CT in breast cancer patients

In a minority of breast cancer patients, lymphoscintigraphy shows no lymphatic drainage and 'hidden' sentinel nodes may remain undiscovered. The purpose of this study was to explore the additional value of the recently introduced hybrid SPECT/CT in breast cancer patients with axillary non-visualisation on planar images. The role of blue dye and careful palpation of the axilla was evaluated in patients in whom axillary sentinel nodes remained hidden after SPECT/CT. Fifteen breast cancer patients with non-visualisation on planar lymphoscintigraphy and 13 women with only extra-axillary sentinel nodes underwent SPECT/CT following late planar imaging without re-injection of the radiopharmaceutical. SPECT/CT visualised lymphatic drainage in eight of the 15 patients (53%) with non-visualisation on planar imaging, depicted nine of the 14 harvested sentinel nodes (64%) and three of five tumour-positive sentinel nodes. In two of the 13 patients (15%) with only extra-axillary sentinel nodes on their planar lymphoscintigram, SPECT/CT showed an axillary sentinel node that appeared to be uninvolved. Careful exploration of the axilla with the combined use of blue dye, a gamma probe and intra-operative palpation revealed an axillary sentinel node in the remaining 18 patients. SPECT/CT showed the exact anatomical location of all visualised sentinel nodes. SPECT/CT discovered 'hidden' sentinel nodes in the majority of patients with non-visualisation, but was less valuable in patients with only extra-axillary lymphatic drainage on the planar images. Exploration of the axilla in patients with persistent non-visualisation improved the identification of axillary (involved) sentinel nodes.

Comparación entre la inyección intratumoral y peritumoral del radiotrazador para la localización y biopsia del ganglio centinela en cáncer de mama no palpable

To determine whether there are differences in the technical efficacy in detecting and biopsying the sentinel node after intratumoral or peritumoral administration of the radiotracer in patients with nonpalpable early-stage breast cancer. This prospective, randomized study included 80 patients with nonpalpable breast cancer without axillary adenopathies who were scheduled for primary surgical treatment. Patients were randomized to one of two groups: the INTRA group (intratumoral radiotracer administration, n=35) or the PERI group (peritumoral radiotracer administration, n=45). Patients with suspicious axillary lymph nodes at clinical or ultrasonographic examination that had positive results after fine-needle aspiration cytology were excluded. The rates of sentinel node detection were 97.1% (34/35) for intratumoral injection and 84.4% (38/45) for peritumoral injection. Radiotracer migration failure occurred in 8 cases (one in the INTRA group and 7 in the PERI group). The sentinel node was detected in an extra-axillary location in 21.9% of cases (11/59 in the INTRA group and 16/64 in the PERI group). Our study found no statistically significant differences in the detection rates of axillary or extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes between the two groups; however, we observed greater technical efficacy with intratumoral radiotracer administration.

Intérêt de la lymphoscintigraphie dans la procédure du ganglion sentinelle en cancérologie mammaire

Sentinel lymph node biopsy is nowadays an accepted method of staging breast cancer patients. In case of an injection of radioactive colloid, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is recommended to establish a lymphatic mapping and to predict the number of sentinel lymph nodes identified during surgery. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy does not decrease the false-negative rate. However, positive preoperative lymphoscintigraphy significantly improves the identification rate of intraoperative sentinel nodes comparing with negative preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Detecting extra-axillary sentinel lymph nodes, because of its minimal therapeutic consequences, does not appear to be an indication for preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. Given logistics and cost required, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy should be only performed for patients with a high risk of intraoperative failed localization. In case of negative preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, sentinel lymph node biopsy must be tried because sentinel nodes are still identified in the majority of these patients. Another possibility, with important cost and logistic, should consist in performing a later lymphoscintigraphy on the day after radioactive injection to ameliorate sentinel lymph nodes identification.

Multiparametric analysis of preoperative lymphatic mapping with the use of combined deep plus superficial radiotracer injection technique in early breast cancer

According to literature, combined tracer injection techniques seem to be the more powerful choice to eliminate technical and patient-related limitations. In this study, we analysed the quantitative performance parameters of combined deep plus superficial radiotracer injection and their correlation with a set of clinical, pathological and technical factors. One hundred and sixteen women who underwent preoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping were studied prospectively. All patients received the simultaneous deep and superficial injection of 99mTc-nanocolloid. Mapping success rate, mean number of SLNs per patient and radiotracer uptake of SLNs were determined. The possible effects of age, tumour stage, laterality and location, type and time of previous biopsy, and SLN status on the quantitative parameters were analysed. Axillary SLNs were visualized in all cases. Mean number of axillary SLNs was 2.15 and advanced age (>50) significantly decreased the number of SLNs. Radiotracer uptake of SLNs was also significantly decreased by advanced age and a shorter time interval between biopsy and mapping (<10 days). Extra-axillary SLN visualization rates for medial, lateral and periareolar injection sites were 32%, 16% and 8%. Although SLN gamma probe counts were significantly higher in the single-day protocol, the 2-day protocol gave better contrast values which was also an important parameter in lesion detection. The combined radiotracer injection technique successfully demonstrated axillary and extra-axillary SLNs. Advanced age and previous biopsy time can lower the accuracy and reliability of SLN biopsy. Although periareolar injection gave the best results for the axilla, it was still insensitive for extra-axillary SLNs in spite of deep injection.

Use of Lymphoscintigraphy Defines Lymphatic Drainage Patterns Before Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer

Lymphoscintigraphy (LSG) can identify lymphatic drainage patterns before sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is performed in patients with early-stage breast cancer, but the importance of extraaxillary SLNs seen on LSG is unknown. We assessed whether drainage patterns seen on LSG were associated with histologic findings in axillary SLNs recovered at SLN biopsy. From a prospectively maintained database, we identified 1,201 clinically node-negative patients with invasive breast cancer who underwent preoperative LSG and axillary SLN biopsy. Patient and tumor characteristics, LSG results, and final SLN pathology results were examined. LSG showed drainage to internal mammary (IM) nodes in 1.6% of patients, axillary nodes in 68.1%, both IM and axillary nodes in 19.8%, and no drainage in 10.3%. Drainage to IM nodes was observed for tumors in all quadrants of the breast. Patients with IM drainage had a younger median age than patients without IM drainage (51.8 versus 58.3 years, respectively; p < 0.001). The intraoperative axillary SLN identification rate was higher when axillary drainage was observed on LSG than when it was not observed (98.7% versus 93.0%, respectively; p < 0.001), but the LSG drainage pattern was not associated with pathologic status of the SLN or number of metastatic SLNs. At a median followup of 32 months, 4 patients had regional nodal recurrence. Almost one-fourth of patients had lymphatic drainage to the extraaxillary lymph nodes, particularly the IM nodes, seen on LSG. Extraaxillary drainage seen on LSG did not preclude identification of axillary SLNs at operation. Longterm followup of patients with lymphoscintigraphic evidence of extraaxillary drainage is needed to determine whether regional and systemic recurrence patterns differ in these patients.

Is axillary dissection necessary for breast cancer patients with micrometastasis in the sentinel lymph node?

To document of our experience with EAS SNB and evaluate its impact on the staging, management and the associated morbidities of patients with early breast cancer.A review of two prospective breast cancer databases identifying all SNB procedures performed at two affiliated breast units from 1998 to 2003.A series of 979 patients underwent lymphatic mapping. Sentinel nodes were successfully identified in 903 patients. There were 142 cases in which lymphoscintigraphy identified EAS. In 17 cases extraaxillary sentinel nodes were identified with lymphoscintigraphy but could not be removed. There were 138 cases where internal mammary nodes (IMN) were removed. Of those IMN removed 25 were positive for metastases and in six of these cases only the IMN was positive. Of the 21 cases where other EAS were identified there was one case in which a supraclavicular sentinel node was positive. Twenty-five of the 26 positive sentinel nodes in EAS were macrometastases and one was a micrometastasis.No significant morbidity resulted from biopsy of EAS SNB. During IMN SNB there were eight pleural breeches, which did not result in pneumothoraces, and one case in which bleeding was difficult to control.EAS SNB is technically feasible in the majority of cases. Minimal morbidity occurs after an initial learning phase. IMN SNB was shown to have significant impact on the staging and management in 18% of patients when IMNs were identified with lymphoscintigraphy. The impact of other extraaxillary lymph nodes is more difficult to assess due to small numbers. As there is little morbidity and valuable information is gained in a significant percentage of cases we strongly advocate EAS SNB.

Extra-axillary sentinel node biopsy in the management of early breast cancer

Aim To document of our experience with EAS SNB and evaluate its impact on the staging, management and the associated morbidities of patients with early breast cancer. Method A review of two prospective breast cancer databases identifying all SNB procedures performed at two affiliated breast units from 1998 to 2003. Results A series of 979 patients underwent lymphatic mapping. Sentinel nodes were successfully identified in 903 patients. There were 142 cases in which lymphoscintigraphy identified EAS. In 17 cases extraaxillary sentinel nodes were identified with lymphoscintigraphy but could not be removed. There were 138 cases where internal mammary nodes (IMN) were removed. Of those IMN removed 25 were positive for metastases and in six of these cases only the IMN was positive. Of the 21 cases where other EAS were identified there was one case in which a supraclavicular sentinel node was positive. Twenty-five of the 26 positive sentinel nodes in EAS were macrometastases and one was a micrometastasis. No significant morbidity resulted from biopsy of EAS SNB. During IMN SNB there were eight pleural breeches, which did not result in pneumothoraces, and one case in which bleeding was difficult to control. Conclusion EAS SNB is technically feasible in the majority of cases. Minimal morbidity occurs after an initial learning phase. IMN SNB was shown to have significant impact on the staging and management in 18% of patients when IMNs were identified with lymphoscintigraphy. The impact of other extraaxillary lymph nodes is more difficult to assess due to small numbers. As there is little morbidity and valuable information is gained in a significant percentage of cases we strongly advocate EAS SNB.