Sentinel lymph node biopsy as an indicator for axillary dissection in early breast cancer

Citation
U. Veronesi et al., Sentinel lymph node biopsy as an indicator for axillary dissection in early breast cancer, EUR J CANC, 37(4), 2001, pp. 454-458
Citations number
17
Categorie Soggetti
Oncology,"Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER
ISSN journal
09598049 → ACNP
Volume
37
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
454 - 458
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-8049(200103)37:4<454:SLNBAA>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) is a new component of the surgical treatment of breast cancer that accurately predicts axillary status. Although the proced ure is still mainly investigational, many patients are requesting SNB to av oid axillary dissection if the sentinel node (SN) is negative. From March 1 996 to December 1999, 373 patients with breast carcinoma and clinically neg ative axillary nodes underwent breast surgery, mainly conservative, and SNB . If the SN was histologically uninvolved no further surgical treatment was given. All patients were informed in detail and signed a consent form. SNB involved injection of labelled albumin particles close to the primary tumo ur, lymphoscintigraphy and location of the sentinel node with a gamma probe during surgery. 379 SNBs were performed on 373 patients (6 were bilateral) . In 94, the SN was positive and complete axillary dissection was performed . In 285 cases (280 patients) the SN was negative and no dissection was per formed: these were carefully followed with quarterly clinical examination o f the axilla. A total of 343 years at risk were available for evaluation fr om which seven cases of axillary metastases were expected. No cases of clin ically evident axillary node metastasis have occurred. These findings provi de further confirmation of the validity of SNB and prompt us to suggest tha t it should become the method of choice for axillary staging in small-sized breast cancer. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.