Preliminary Experience of the Value of Setinel Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer Operations

Objective To estimate the feasibility of the lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy (SNB) in patients with breast cancer, and to examine the accuracy of SNB for prediction of the status of patient's axillary lymph nodes. Methods Since July 2000 fifteen patients with breast cancer less than 5 cm in diameter and clinical negative axillary node had underwent SNB. After injection of standard 99m Tc-Dextran or 99m Tc sulphur colloid around the tumor, biopsy was made at the location detected by γ probing. The samples of SLN and ALN were sent for histological examination. Results The sentinel nodes were identified in 66.6% (10/15) of the patients, with an average of 2.1(1～3) nodes excised in the axillary lymph node dissection(ALDN). The non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) excised down averaged 10.3(5～16). The pathological results showed NSLN positive but SLN negative in 2 patients, yielding an accuracy of 80%. Conclusions For predicting the status of axillary node, further experience of lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy is needed to decrease the false negative rate.