Advances in regional nodal management of early-stage breast cancer

With the continuous improvement of systemic treatment, reasonable local regional control of early-stage breast cancer can be translated into survival benefits. The optimization of regional nodal management in patients with limited sentinel lymph node(SLN) metastasis needs to be weighed by surgical complications, regional recurrence risk, and lymph node status, as well as other escalating treatment(systemic/radiotherapy) that may result from deescalating surgery. With the effective support and supplementation of systemic therapy and radiotherapy, the management of axillary surgery is developing in a de-escalating trend. The widespread application of neoadjuvant therapy has contributed to optimizing the management of patients with clinically node-negative/imaging nodepositive disease. In clinical practice, it is necessary to consider the residual tumor burden of regional lymph nodes when formulating the optimal irradiation fields in patients with limited positive SLN without axillary lymph node dissection. The combined application of genomic tests and American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z0011/AMAROS criteria could provide patients with a better strategy of dual de-escalation treatment, which includes the de-escalation of both axillary surgery and systemic treatment. In the era of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB), the regional nodal management of breast cancer should adhere to the concept of “updating ideas, making bold assumptions, and carefully seeking proof”, make full use of the benefits of systemic therapy and radiotherapy to reduce the scope of surgery and complications, and expand the “net benefit” of efficacy and quality of life. This review discusses the optimization of regional nodal management in the era of SLNB, in order to provide reference information for clinicians.

Assessing the Clinical Efficacy and Effectiveness of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Combined with Breast-Conserving Surgery for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Objective:To analyze the impact of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)combined with breast-conserving surgery in the clinical treatment of early-stage breast cancer.Methods:80 patients with early-stage breast cancer admitted to the Second Department of Breast Surgery at Dezhou Second People’s Hospital from September 2020 to September 2022 were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method,with 40 cases in each group.The control group underwent a modified radical mastectomy,while the observation group underwent SLNB combined with breast-conserving surgery.The surgical efficacy and prognosis between the two groups were compared.Results:The observation group exhibited shorter operation,hospitalization,and extubation times,as well as less intraoperative blood loss and drainage volume,all of which were significantly better than those in the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,the observation group demonstrated a higher rate of excellent breast cosmetology and quality of life,with lower complication incidence,significantly outperforming the control group(P<0.05).There was no statistical difference in the metastasis rate and recurrence rate between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:The combination of SLNB and breast-conserving surgery proves highly effective for patients with early-stage breast cancer,presenting fewer complications and enhancing both breast cosmetic outcomes and quality of life.

A mini-review on factors and countermeasures associated with false-negative sentinel lymph node biopsies in breast cancer

Sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） is a new surgical technique for local axillary lymph nodes （ALNs） of breast cancer. Large-scale clinical trials have confirmed that undergoing SLNB and ALN dissection （ALND） showed no significant difference for sentinel lymph node （SLN）-negative patients in terms of disease-free survival, overall survival and recurrence-free survival. However, false-negative results are still the main concern of physicians as well as patients who undergo SLNB instead of ALND. The American Society of Breast Surgeons established a task force to suggest acceptable standards for SLNB. In 2000, the task force recommended that the identification rate for SLNB be 85% or higher and the false-negative rate be 5% or lower. This review focuses on clinical factors （tumor volume, multifocal/multi-center cancers, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and skip metastasis）, tracer techniques and pathological factors affecting SLNB and explores methods for reducing the false-negative rate.

Prospective study found that peripheral lymph node sampling reduced the false-negative rate of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer

Background:Although sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB) can accurately predict the status of axillary lymph node(ALN) metastasis,the high false?negative rate(FNR) of SLNB is still the main obstacle for the treatment of patients who receive SLNB instead of ALN dissection(ALND).The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of SLNB combined with peripheral lymph node(PLN) sampling for reducing the FNR for breast cancer and to discuss the effect of "skip metastasis" on the FNR of SLNB.Methods:At Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University between March 1,2012 and June 30,2015,the sentinel lymph nodes(SLNs) of 596 patients with breast cancer were examined using radiocolloids with blue dye tracer.First,the SLNs were removed;then,the area surrounding the original SLNs was selected,and the visible lymph nodes in a field of 3–5 cm in diameter around the center(i.e.,PLNs) were removed,avoiding damage to the structure of the breast.Finally,ALND was performed.The SLNs,PLNs,and remaining ALNs underwent pathologic examination,and the relationship between them was analyzed.Results:The identification rate of SLNs in the 596 patients was 95.1%(567/596);the metastasis rate of ALNs was 33.7%(191/567);the FNR of pure SLNB was 9.9%(19/191);and after the SLNs and PLNs were eliminated,the FNR was 4.2%(8/191),which was significantly decreased compared with the FNR before removal of PLNs(P Aected number(N) of SLNs,the patients were divided into four groups of N = 0.028).ccording to the det= 1,2,3,and ≥4;the FNR in these groups was 19.6,9.8,7.3,and 2.3%,respectively.For the patients with removal of PLNs was significantly decreased compared with that before remo≤2 or val of P≤3 detected SLNs,the FNR afterLNs(N 3:12.2% vs.4.7%,P ≤ 2:14.0% vs.4.7%,P = 0.019;N ≤ nt(P = 0.021),whereas for patients with ≥4 detected SLNs,the decrease in FNR was not statistically significa= 1.000).In the entire cohorts,the "skip metastasis" rate was 2.5%(15/596);the FNR caused by "skip metastasis" was 2.1%(4/191).Conclusions:The FNR of SLNB was associated with the number of SLNs.For patients with mpling can reduce the FNR of SLNB to an acceptable level of less than 5%.Because of the≤3 detected SLNs,PLN sa existence of the "skip metastasis" and distinct metastasis patterns,the FNR of SLNB cannot be completely eliminated.

New Wireless Handheld Ultrasound-Guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB) Devices: An Important Innovation in Breast Diagnosis

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) plays a fundamental role in the preoperative assessment of breast lesions pro- viding large histology samples that are useful to define diagnoses and biological parameters to guide treatment planning. This technique has been used in our institute since 2000 and two new wireless handheld ultrasound-guided VABB de- vices have been introduced since May 2012. In this report we analyze our experience with these revolutionary devices which are able to provide the option of single-insertion contiguous tissue samples respectively with a 13/14-gauge aperture. Our initial experience on 75 lesions shows that these devices are safe, fast, procedurally advantageous for operators and well accepted by patients. Finally VABB procedures can markedly reduce the need for surgical biopsy.

Feasibility of sentinel lymph node biopsy omission after integration of ^(18)F-FDG dedicated lymph node PET in early breast cancer: a prospective phase II trial

Objective:Sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)is currently the standard of care in clinically node negative(cN0)breast cancer.The present study aimed to evaluate the negative predictive value(NPV)of 18F-FDG dedicated lymph node positron emission tomography(LymphPET)in cN0 patients.Methods:This was a prospective phase II trial divided into 2 stages(NCT04072653).In the first stage,cN0 patients underwent axillary LymphPET followed by SLNB.In the second stage,SLNB was omitted in patients with a negative preoperative axillary assessment after integration of LymphPET.Here,we report the results of the first stage.The primary outcome was the NPV of LymphPET to detect macrometastasis of lymph nodes(LN-macro).Results:A total of 189 patients with invasive breast cancer underwent LymphPET followed by surgery with definitive pathological reports.Forty patients had LN-macro,and 16 patients had only lymph node micrometastasis.Of the 131 patients with a negative LymphPET result,16 patients had LN-macro,and the NPV was 87.8%.After combined axillary imaging evaluation with ultrasound and LymphPET,100 patients were found to be both LymphPET and ultrasound negative,9 patients had LN-macro,and the NPV was 91%.Conclusions:LymphPET can be used to screen patients to potentially avoid SLNB,with an NPV>90%.The second stage of the SOAPET trial is ongoing to confirm the safety of omission of SLNB according to preoperational axillary evaluation integrating LymphPET.

Breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer and their correlation with the expression of polyligand proteoglycan-1

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with an unclear etiology and is the most common malignant tumor in women.Surgery is the main clinical treatment for breast cancer.Although traditional total mastectomy combined with axillary lymph node dissection is effective,it can result in shoulder dysfunction,especially in middle-aged and elderly patients with breast cancer with weak constitution and other underlying diseases.Furthermore,the postoperative quality of life is poor.AIM To assess breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer treatment and their correlation with polyligand proteoglycan-1.METHODS Overall,80 patients with breast cancer treated in our hospital from January 2021 to July 2021 were retrospectively selected and divided into an observation group(n=44)and control group(n=36)according to the treatment plan.The observation group was treated with breast-conserving surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy,and the control group was treated with total breast resection.Simultaneously,immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of syndecan-1(SDC-1)in the lesions,and its relationship with clinicopathological findings was analyzed.RESULTS Intraoperative blood loss,operation time,and hospital stay in the observation group were 65.51±9.94 m L,65.59±9.40 min,and 14.80±3.03 d,respectively,which were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group was 11.36%,which was significantly lower than that in the control group(P<0.05).The positive expression rate of SDC-1 in the observation group was 25.00%,and there was no significant difference between the groups(P>0.05).The positive expression rate of SDC-1 in patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer(AJCC)stageⅡwas 14.29%,which was significantly lower than that in patients with AJCC stageⅠ(P<0.05).The positive expression of SDC-1 had no significant relationship with age,course of disease,site,tissue type,and treatment plan(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Breast preservation surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer treatment have fewer complications and quicker recovery than those treated with total breast resection.Low SDC-1 expression in breast cancer lesions is related to AJCC staging.

The Initial Implementation of the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for Breast Cancer Management in Malta

Over the past two decades, the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) based on sentinel node (SN) being the first lymph node that harbors metastases, revolutionized breast cancer management. SLNB presents much less morbidity when compared to radical axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) where all nodes are dissected irrespective of their metastatic involvement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of SLNB by investigating whether the histological characteristics of the SNs identified using scintigraphy are predictive of the histological characteristics of the ALN basin. Methods: Fifty-five female breast cancer patients underwent lymphoscintigraphy and SLNB followed by ALND. The histological status of the SN/s was correlated to the histological status of the ALNs to determine whether the SN accurately stages the ALNs in breast cancer. Results: During surgery, SNs were successfully isolated in 52 out of 55 cases (94.5%) (range, 0 to 9). No SNs were identified in 3 cases (5.5%). Results demonstrate a significant association (p = 0.05) between the metastatic status of SNs and the corresponding ALNs in 42 out of 52 patients (80.8%), but with a high false-negative rate (FNR) of 37.5%. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that the sentinel node concept provides the benefits of SLNB in the majority of instances. However, further work is required in reducing the FNR. Once the effectiveness of SLNB as a staging technique is locally established, the need of ALND in SN-negative patients would be limited, thus improving the quality of life of Maltese breast cancer patients.

Is sentinel lymph node biopsy necessary for the patients diagnosed with breast ductal carcinoma in situ using core needle biopsy or vacuum-assisted biopsy as the initial diagnostic method？

Objective: Axillary lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic indicator of survival for breast cancer, especially in ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB) should be performed in patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS. Methods: A retrospective study was performed of 124 patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS between March 2000 and June 2014. The patients were treated with either SLNB or axillary node dissection during the surgery, and we compared the clinicopathologic characteristics, image features, and immunohistochemical results. Results: Eighty-two patients(66.1%) had pure DCIS and 25(20.2%) had DCIS with microinvasion(DCISM), 17(13.7%) updated to invasive breast cancer(IBC). 115 patients(92.7%) underwent SLNB, among them, 70 patients(56.5%) underwent axillary node dissection. 3 of 115 patients(2.6%) had a positive sentinel lymph node, only 1(1.4%) of 70 patients had axillary lymph node metastasis, in 84 patients(66.7%) who were diagnosed DCIS by core needle biopsy(CNB) and vacuum-assisted biopsy(VAB). 26 patients(31.0%) were upstaged into IBC or DCISM in the final histological diagnosis. The statistically significant factors predictive of underestimation were large tumor size, microcalcifications, comedo necrosis, positive Her-2 status, negative estrogen receptor status. Conclusion: The metastasis of sentinel lymph nodes in pure DCIS is very low, but the underestimation of invasive carcinoma in patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS is an usual incident, especially in the cases when DCIS is diagnosed by CNB or VAB. Our findings suggest patients presenting with a preoperative diagnosis of DCIS associated with large tumor sizes, microcalcifications, comedo necrosis, positive Her-2 status, negative ER status are more likely to be DCISM and IBC in final diagnosis. SLNB should be performed in this part of patients.

Breast Core-Needle Biopsy in a Large Tertiary Oncologic Centre—1-Year Experience after the Introduction of the Method

Ultrasound (US)-guided core-needle biopsy (CNB) is currently the procedure of choice for work-up of suspicious breast lesion. It is mainly used for evaluation of suspicious breast lesions categorized as BI-RADS 4 and 5 (Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System). The conducted study included 56 female patients with detected suspicious breast leasions, and they underwent US-guided CNB during 1-year period with the aim to investigate the value of US-guided CNB of the breast in a tertiary-level large-volume oncological centre setting with respect of indications, technical adequacy and safety. 2 patients who entered the study were previously diagnosed as BIRADS 2, 3 patients as BIRADS 3, 18 patients as BIRADS 4 and 33 patients as BIRADS 5. In 14 patients with BC (breast cancer), both FNA (fine-needle aspiration) and CNB were performed, and the malignancy was accurately diagnosed by cytology in 9 patients, confirmed by subsequent CNB in all of them. ADH (atypical ductal hyperplasia) was initialy diagnosed by FNA in 5 patients, and in 2 of them, BC was initialy missed by FNA, but deteced by CNB. As it is known, the cytology has lower sensitivity for detection of BC than hystology, with false-negative rate ranging from 2.5% to 17.9%. In our material, 18.7% of carcinomas were initialy left undetected by FNAC, and subsequently confirmed by CNB. All confirmed carcinomas were correctly suspected on imaging, and categorized as BI-RADS 4 or 5, while all BI-RADS 2 and 3 findings were confirmed as benign on hystology. False-positive rate of imaging was 8%. An average number of 4 tissue cores (range: 2 - 7) was taken in our experience if good quality of the first 3 core was achieved, and there was no consistent reason to proceed with sampling.

Recent Advances in the Tracer Technology Used for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer

The high incidence of breast cancer poses one of the greatest risks to female health worldwide. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is the standard of treatment for patients with axillary lymph node-negative early-stage breast cancer. Herein, the precise use of tracers is the key to ensuring the success of SLNB. However, owing to select-few limitations of traditional tracers, their clinical application is limited. New tracer techniques, such as the near-infrared fluorescent dye method (using indocyanine green), contrast-enhanced ultrasound, and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are being applied in clinical practice. In this paper, we review the recent progress in SLNB tracer technology.

Staging the axilla in women with breast cancer: the utility of preoperative ultrasound-guided needle biopsy

Preoperative staging of the axilla in women with invasive breast cancer using ultrasound-guided needle biopsy(UNB) identifies approximately 50% of patients with axillary nodal metastases prior to surgical intervention. Although moderately sensitive, it is a highly specific staging strategy that is rarely falsely-positive, hence a positive UNB allows patients to be triaged to axillary lymph-node dissection(ALND) avoiding potentially unnecessary sentinel node biopsy(SNB). In this review, we extend our previous work through an updated literature search, focusing on studies that report data on UNB utility. Based on data for 10,934 breast cancer patients, sourced from 35 studies, a positive UNB allowed triage of 1,745 cases(simple proportion 16%) to axillary surgical treatment: the utility of UNB was a median 19.8% [interquartile range(IQR) 11.6%-26.7%] across these studies. We also modelled data from a subgroup of studies, and estimated that amongst patients with metastases to axillary nodes, the odds ratio(OR) for high nodal disease burden for a positive UNB versus a negative UNB was 4.38 [95% confidence interval(95% CI): 3.13, 6.13], P<0.001. From this model, the estimated proportion with high nodal disease burden was 58.9%(95% CI: 50.2%, 67.0%) for a positive UNB, whereas the estimated proportion with high nodal disease burden was 24.6%(95% CI: 17.7%, 33.2%) if UNB was negative. Overall, axillary UNB has good clinical utility and a positive UNB can effectively triage to ALND. However, the evolving landscape of axillary surgical treatment means that UNB will have relatively less utility where surgeons have modified their practice to omission of ALND for minimal nodal metastatic disease.

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.

Towards optimal management of the axilla in the context of a positive sentinel node biopsy in early breast cancer

The sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB) was initially pioneered for staging melanoma in 1994 and it has been subsequently validated by several trials, and has become the new standard of care for patients with clinically node negative invasive breast cancer. The focussed examination of fewer lymph nodes in addition to improvements in histopathological and molecular analysis has increased the rate at which micrometastases and isolated tumour cells are identified. In this article we review the literature regarding the optimal management of the axilla when the SLNB is positive for metastatic disease based on level 1 evidence derived from randomised clinical trials.

Diagnosis and excision of breast multi-focal lesions by ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy:a comparative evaluation

Objective To compare and evaluate the efficacy of diagnosis and excision for appropriately selected breast multi-focal lesions and solitary lesion by ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy(UGVAB).Methods Among 392 appropriately selected patients,187 patients with multi-focal lesions and 205 patients with solitary lesion were treated by the 8-gauge UGVAB from May 2007 to June 2009.All lesions were removed as completely as possible.The patients with benign pathology underwent physical and ultrasound examinations at one week and 6 months after procedure.Results During the procedure,only three patients had vasovagal syncope and twenty others complained of other intraoperative discomfort.An accurate pathological diagnosis was obtained in all lesions.There was no apparent false-negative result among the 696 lesions with benign pathology at a follow-up of 6 months after procedure.The rates of malignant or premalignant pathology,postoperative complications and residual lesions in patients with multi-focal lesions were higher than those in patients with solitary lesion.If each lesion was considered as a subject of study,there was no significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion UGVAB is an effective method for diagnosis and excision of appropriately selected breast multi-focal lesions and can be used routinely.

The role of fine-wire localization breast biopsy in the management of BI-RADS category 3-5 non-palpable breast lesions in northeastern Chinese women

A blinded retrospective validation study was performed in a university-based hospital in northeastern China to determine whether the breast imaging reporting and data system (BI- RADS) defines a group of patients with non- palpable breast lesions (NPBLs) in whom fine- wire localization biopsy (FWLB) is appropriate. We reviewed 182 consecutive patients with NPBLs who underwent FWLB. The patients’ preoperative mammograms were categorized according BI-RADS by 2 radiologists blinded to the pathological findings. The positive predictive values of BI-RADS categories 3-5 were 3.4%, 42.1%, and 76.9%, respectively. For category 4 NPBLs, the percentage of cancer for those aged < 40 years was significantly lower than those aged ≥ 40 years. For category 3 NPBLs, the percentage of precancerous lesions for those aged < 40 years was significantly lower than those aged ≥ 40 years. Chinese NPBL patients aged ≥ 40 years with category 4 mammographic findings, and all patients with category 5 findings should undergo FWLB. FWLB should be offered as a treatment option for Chinese NPBL patients aged < 40 years with category 4 findings or aged ≥ 40 years with category 3 findings.

Circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in breast cancer diagnosis and monitoring

Liquid biopsy,including both circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA,is becoming more popular as a diagnostic tool in the clinical management of breast cancer.Elevated concentrations of these biomarkers during cancer treatment may be used as markers for cancer progression as well as to understand the mechanisms underlying metastasis and treatment resistance.Thus,these circulating markers serve as tools for cancer assessing and monitoring through a simple,non-invasive blood draw.However,despite several study results currently noting a potential clinical impact of ctDNA mutation tracking,the method is not used clinically in cancer diagnosis among patients and more studies are required to confirm it.This review focuses on understanding circulating tumor biomarkers,especially in breast cancer.

Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Breast Lesions: Results and Usefulness in a Low Income Country

Background: Core needle biopsy (CNB) under ultrasound guidance is an accepted standard of care for the diagnosis of breast lesions. It is safe, cost-effective and minimally invasive compared with surgical excision. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the CNB’s results regarding the procedure, complications, histopathological findings and their correlation with the imaging data and surgical histopathological findings. Method: A cross-sectional prospective and descriptive study of a consecutive series of ultrasound-guided CNB of breast lesions in women conduced from January 2015 to December 2016 at the Sylvanus Olympio university hospital of Lomé, in Togo. Results: There were 72 CNB performed under ultrasound guidance in women;from which 54 were retained for the study. The mean age was 44.9 years ± 9.8. 11.1% had a family history of breast cancer. Lesions were most often palpable (90.7%). They were located in the left breast in 54.7%. Lesions were categorized probably malignant or malignant (Birads 4 and 5) in 70.4% and probably benign (Birads 3) in 29.6%. Their mean size was 24.8 mm ± 7.6 at ultrasound. There were no major complications during the procedure. One CNB (1.9%) considered inconclusive was repeated. Histologically, invasive ductal carcinoma (61.1%) was the most common lesion. Fifty-three women underwent surgical procedure and histopathological confirmation. Ultrasound-guided CNB had a sensitivity of 97.5%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 92.8%, and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 98.1%. Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (Birads) categorization had a sensitivity of 94.8%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 87.4%, and diagnostic accuracy of 96.2%. Conclusion: Ultrasound guided CNB represent accurate methods for the characterization of breast lesions, with high values of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value. It does not involve a major complication, even in tropical environments.

SENTINEL NODE BIOPSY BY TWO KINDS OF BLUE DYES IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

Objective To evaluate the identification successful rate of sentinel lymph node with breast cancer and the accuracy to predict axillary lymph node status in different vital blue dyes.Methods 94 patients with breast cancer were recruited for the study between Oct. 1999 and Apr. 2001, of whom 32 and 62, respectively, were injected 0.028mmol·L -1 Methylene blue and 0.018mmol·L -1 Patent blue violet in breast parenchyma surrounding the primary tumor to identify SLN.All 94 patients underwent the axillary lymph node dissection.Results For Methylene blue group and Patent blue violet group, SLN identification successful rates were 65.6% and 88.7% and accuracy rate to predict axillary lymph node status were 90.5% and 98.2% , respectively.Conclusion In identifying SLN,Patent blue violet is more ideal vital blue dye than Methylene blue, whereas the accuracy rate to predict axillary lymph node status had no significant difference.

Axillary Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer and Melanoma Patients after Previous Axillary Surgery: A Systematic Review

Objective: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a validated staging technique for breast carcinoma. Some women are exposed to have a second SLNB due to breast cancer recurrence or a second neoplasia (breast or other). Due to modified anatomy, it has been claimed that previous axillary surgery represents a contra-indication to SLNB. Our objective was to analyse the literature to assess if a second SLNB is to be recommended or not. Methods: For the present study, we performed a review of all published data during the last 10 years on patients with previous axilla surgery and second SLNB. Results: Our analysis shows that second SLNB is feasible in 70%. Extra-axillary SNs rate (31%) was higher after radical lymph node dissection (ALND) (60% - 84%) than after SLNB alone (14% - 65%). Follow-up and complementary ALND following negative and positive second SLNB shows that it is a reliable procedure. Conclusion: The review of literature confirms that SLNB is feasible after previous axillary dissection. Triple technique for SN mapping is the best examination to highlight modified lymphatic anatomy and shows definitively where SLNB must be performed. Surgery may be more demanding as patients may have more frequently extra-axillary SN only, like internal mammary nodes. ALND can be avoided when second SLNB harvests negative SNs. These conclusions should however be taken with caution because of the heterogeneity of publications regarding SLNB and surgical technique.