BACKGROUND: Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) with sentinel node (SN) biopsy is proposed to provide a feasible method to complete lymphatic staging in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of parasternal SN biopsy. METHODS: A total of 984 consecutive patients with clinical stage T1/2N0 invasive breast cancer who underwent LS and SN biopsy were included in the study. A prospectively collected database was used. An intratumoral injection of 50 to 145 MBq of (99m)Tc-labeled human albumin colloid (Nanocoll) was used for preoperative LS. RESULTS: LS showed the axillary SN in 844 (86%) cases and the parasternal SN in 138 (14%) cases. The median number of visualized parasternal SN was 2 (range, 1-6). Visualization of the parasternal SN was more common in patients with mediocentral tumors (81 of 399; 20%) and in patients with lateral tumors (56 of 585; 10%; P < .0001). Parasternal SNs were visualized more often, in 100 (17%) of 584 patients without axillary metastases compared with 38 (10%) of 400 patients with metastatic axillary nodes (P = .0006). Parasternal SNs were harvested successfully in 121 (88%) patients with visualization of those nodes. Parasternal SN metastases were detected in 18 patients, with a median of 1 metastasis (range, 1-4 metastases). Eight of these 18 patients were axillary node negative. CONCLUSIONS: Parasternal SN biopsy results in upstaging in 2% of all breast cancer patients who undergo SN biopsy. The clinical value of the procedure seems insignificant, although it may influence the adjuvant treatment regimen in some patients.
BACKGROUND: Lymphoscintigraphy (LS) with sentinel node (SN) biopsy is proposed to provide a feasible method to complete lymphatic staging in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of parasternal SN biopsy. METHODS: A total of 984 consecutive patients with clinical stage T1/2N0 invasive breast cancer who underwent LS and SN biopsy were included in the study. A prospectively collected database was used. An intratumoral injection of 50 to 145 MBq of (99m)Tc-labeled human albumin colloid (Nanocoll) was used for preoperative LS. RESULTS: LS showed the axillary SN in 844 (86%) cases and the parasternal SN in 138 (14%) cases. The median number of visualized parasternal SN was 2 (range, 1-6). Visualization of the parasternal SN was more common in patients with mediocentral tumors (81 of 399; 20%) and in patients with lateral tumors (56 of 585; 10%; P < .0001). Parasternal SNs were visualized more often, in 100 (17%) of 584 patients without axillary metastases compared with 38 (10%) of 400 patients with metastatic axillary nodes (P = .0006). Parasternal SNs were harvested successfully in 121 (88%) patients with visualization of those nodes. Parasternal SN metastases were detected in 18 patients, with a median of 1 metastasis (range, 1-4 metastases). Eight of these 18 patients were axillary node negative. CONCLUSIONS: Parasternal SN biopsy results in upstaging in 2% of all breast cancerpatients who undergo SN biopsy. The clinical value of the procedure seems insignificant, although it may influence the adjuvant treatment regimen in some patients.
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
Authors: E L Postma; S van Wieringen; M G Hobbelink; H M Verkooijen; H J G D van den Bongard; I H M Borel Rinkes; A J Witkamp Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2012-06-08 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Eve Madsen; Pd Gobardhan; V Bongers; M Albregts; Jpj Burgmans; P De Hooge; J Van Gorp; Th van Dalen Journal: Ann Surg Oncol Date: 2007-01-26 Impact factor: 5.344