E J Donahue1. 1. Department of Surgery, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, 333 W. Thomas Rd., Suite 203, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA. Edonahued@aol.com
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Several techniques have been shown to be accurate in identifying axillary sentinel lymph nodes. The accuracy of subareolar blue dye injection is compared with intraparenchymal radioisotope injection. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients with breast cancer were injected with both intraparenchymal technetium-99m and subareolar isosulfan blue dye. After sentinel lymph node identification, an axillary lymph node dissection was performed. RESULTS: The blue dye and the technetium-99m localized to the same axillary nodes even though the injection sites were different. The sensitivity of blue dye in identifying axillary sentinel nodes was 100%. The sensitivity of radioisotope injection in identifying sentinel nodes was 97.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Subareolar blue dye injection is an extremely accurate and cost-effective method of sentinel node identification in breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND: Several techniques have been shown to be accurate in identifying axillary sentinel lymph nodes. The accuracy of subareolar blue dye injection is compared with intraparenchymal radioisotope injection. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients with breast cancer were injected with both intraparenchymal technetium-99m and subareolar isosulfan blue dye. After sentinel lymph node identification, an axillary lymph node dissection was performed. RESULTS: The blue dye and the technetium-99m localized to the same axillary nodes even though the injection sites were different. The sensitivity of blue dye in identifying axillary sentinel nodes was 100%. The sensitivity of radioisotope injection in identifying sentinel nodes was 97.6%. CONCLUSIONS:Subareolar blue dye injection is an extremely accurate and cost-effective method of sentinel node identification in breast cancerpatients.
Authors: P Ferreira; R Baía; A António; J Almeida; J Simões; Jc Amaro; C Quintana; L Branco; Mv Rigueira; M Gonçalves; Ev Pereira; Lm Ferreira Journal: Ecancermedicalscience Date: 2009-01-15