Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in the patients with breast cancer

Objective: To identify the feasibility of the lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in patients with breast cancer and to examine whether the characteristics of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) accurately predict the status of axillary node. Methods: 33 patients with breast cancer intraoperatively and postoperatively underwent a lymphatic mapping and the SNB using Patent Blue. Results: The SLNs were found in 30 of 33 patients (90.9%), the SLN accurately predicted the status of the axillary in 29 (96.7%). In one case the SLN was negative, but other axillary nodes were tumor positive. Conclusion: This study confirmed that the procedure of lymphatic mapping and SNB in the patients with breast cancer is feasibility, and that the histological characteristics of the SLN accurately predict the status of the axillary node. We believe that this technique might replace axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer patients with negative axillae in the future.