Evaluation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Results in 110 Patients with Breast Cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the treatment is removal of the axillary lymph nodes and breast. This study was done to study the results of sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 110 patients with stage I and II breast cancer who refereed to Omid hospital in Mashhad, Iran, 2007-2009. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed. Patients were evaluated with combined methods of injection of radioisotope (scintigraphy) and isosulfan blue dye. Radioisotope count was used to identify the sentinel lymph node. After identifying the sentinel lymph node, the lymph nodes were removed and sent for frozen section evaluation and permanent section pathology. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi square and Fisher's exact tests. Results: Intraoperative frozen section results were positive in 20 patients, therefore they underwent axillary dissection. During the stage of learning curve for surgeon, 30 primary patients (33.33) of the total 90 patients underwent simultaneously sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary dissection. Results of sentinel lymph node biopsy were negative in 70 patients, so axillary dissection was ignored. Permanent pathologic results indicated metastatic involvement of sentinel lymph node in 3 patients of these 70 cases. These 3 cases were all in the first 30 patients that underwent axillary dissection, too. False-negative result of sentinel lymph node biopsy was not observed after getting over the learning curve stage. Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy can determine the metastatic involvement of axillary lymph node in patients with stage I and II breast cancer.