Accuracy of axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy following neoadjuvant (induction) chemotherapy for carcinoma of the breast.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely employed to detect axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients with clinically negative (N0) axillae. One of the few reported contraindications to SLNB is prior treatment with systemic chemotherapy (neoadjuvant/induction chemotherapy). Previous investigators reported difficulty identifying the sentinel node and an unacceptable false-negative rate in this patient cohort. We present one experienced surgeon's experience with SLNB following induction chemotherapy (n = 21). Following treatment with Adriamycin and Cytoxan (AC)-based cyclic chemotherapy, patients underwent SLNB, followed by levels I and II axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). At least one sentinel node was identified in all patients (100%). With respect to metastatic disease, the status of the sentinel node(s) accurately reflected the status of the axilla in 20 of 21 patients (95%). Eleven patients (52%) had axillary metastases identified by ALND. Of this group, SLNB failed to identify metastatic disease in one patient (9%). Previous treatment with induction chemotherapy should not be considered an absolute contraindication to SLNB. An experienced surgeon may utilize the technique in these patients, sparing them the added morbidity of axillary dissection.