The role of sentinel lymph node biopsy on advising axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer

Objective To explore the clinical value of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)to predictaxillary lymph nodemetastasis so as to perform axillary lymph node dissection(ALND)in breast canceroperation.Methods Sixty-five breast cancer patients with surgical treatment in our hospital from 2010 to 2012 were selected.Intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy,then eradication of the different ways and ALND were executed.Results According to intraoperative biopsy and postoperative pathologic axillary lymph node pathology,SLN detection success rate was 95.4%(62/65),SLN prediction accuracy of ALN metastasis was 95.2%(59/62),sensitivity was 88.9%(24/27),specificity was 100%(35/35),false-negative rate was 11.1%(3/27),and the total positive and negative predictive value were 100%(24/24)and 9.2%(35/38).Conclusion Methylene blue method combined with radioactive tracer method could accurately detect the SLN. SLN could reflect the status ofaxillary lymph nodes.