BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate alternative to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. A previous breast biopsy has been considered a relative contraindication to SLNB. We examined the accuracy of SLNB by following the axillary relapses after the procedure in patients who had undergone a breast biopsy before SLNB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Up to December 2003, 4351 patients with the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer underwent SLNB at the European Institute of Oncology. Already, 543 of these patients had undergone a breast biopsy; from June 1997 to January 2004, these patients received SLNB by lymphoscintigraphy performed on the biopsy area. We followed these patients with a clinical assessment every 6 months and instrumental examinations every year, particularly focusing on the research of axillary relapse of disease. RESULTS: In 70.4% of cases, the sentinel node was negative, and only three cases underwent further axillary dissection. The sentinel node was identified in 99% of cases and this was the only positive node in 61.5% of cases with positive axillary nodes. The median follow-up was 2 years; 4 nodal recurrences were observed: 3 axillary lymph node relapses and 1 loco-regional. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB accuracy after a previous breast biopsy is comparable with the results obtained in validation studies. SLNB after a previous breast biopsy can be considered a standard procedure. Lymphoscintigraphy identifies the sentinel node in 99% of patients.
BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate alternative to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in clinically node-negative breast cancerpatients. A previous breast biopsy has been considered a relative contraindication to SLNB. We examined the accuracy of SLNB by following the axillary relapses after the procedure in patients who had undergone a breast biopsy before SLNB. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Up to December 2003, 4351 patients with the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer underwent SLNB at the European Institute of Oncology. Already, 543 of these patients had undergone a breast biopsy; from June 1997 to January 2004, these patients received SLNB by lymphoscintigraphy performed on the biopsy area. We followed these patients with a clinical assessment every 6 months and instrumental examinations every year, particularly focusing on the research of axillary relapse of disease. RESULTS: In 70.4% of cases, the sentinel node was negative, and only three cases underwent further axillary dissection. The sentinel node was identified in 99% of cases and this was the only positive node in 61.5% of cases with positive axillary nodes. The median follow-up was 2 years; 4 nodal recurrences were observed: 3 axillary lymph node relapses and 1 loco-regional. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB accuracy after a previous breast biopsy is comparable with the results obtained in validation studies. SLNB after a previous breast biopsy can be considered a standard procedure. Lymphoscintigraphy identifies the sentinel node in 99% of patients.
Authors: John Buscombe; Giovanni Paganelli; Zeynep E Burak; Wendy Waddington; Jean Maublant; Enrique Prats; Holger Palmedo; Orazio Schillaci; Lorenzo Maffioli; M Lassmann; Carlo Chiesa; Emilio Bombardieri; Arturo Chiti Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2007-12 Impact factor: 9.236
Authors: Ahmed Yahia Al-Ameer; Sahar Al Nefaie; Badria Al Johani; Ihab Anwar; Taher Al Tweigeri; Asma Tulbah; Mohmmed Alshabanah; Osama Al Malik Journal: World J Clin Oncol Date: 2016-04-10
Authors: Francesco Giammarile; Naomi Alazraki; John N Aarsvold; Riccardo A Audisio; Edwin Glass; Sandra F Grant; Jolanta Kunikowska; Marjut Leidenius; Valeria M Moncayo; Roger F Uren; Wim J G Oyen; Renato A Valdés Olmos; Sergi Vidal Sicart Journal: Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging Date: 2013-10-02 Impact factor: 9.236