Sentinel lymph node drainage in multicentric breast cancers Journal Article
| Authors: | Kim, H. J.; Heerdt, A. S.; Cody, H. S. 3rd; Van Zee, K. J. |
| Article Title: | Sentinel lymph node drainage in multicentric breast cancers |
| Abstract: | Axillary lymph node status is the most important prognostic marker in patients with breast cancer; the presence of axillary metastases impacts prognosis as well as subsequent systemic therapy. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is associated with significant morbidity and psychological distress; the introduction of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy with lymphatic mapping affords the ability to identify those patients most likely to benefit from ALND, sparing node-negative patients. The lymphatic drainage of the breast is poorly understood, and the situation is further complicated by the lack of standardization of the SLN biopsy technique among institutions. Multicentricity has generally been considered to be a contraindication to SLN biopsy due to concerns about potential inaccuracies. Here we report five cases of patients with multicentric breast cancers (two tumors in two distinct quadrants). In each case, injection of one site with technetium-labeled sulfur colloid and the second site with isosulfan blue dye resulted in successful identification of at least one node that was both hot and blue within the axilla. These observations suggest that the lymphatic drainage of the entire breast coincides with drainage of the tumor bed, regardless of the quadrant. However, further studies are needed to validate the accuracy of SLN biopsy in multicentric breast cancers. |
| Keywords: | adult; clinical article; human tissue; aged; middle aged; cancer staging; lymph node metastasis; lymph node dissection; lymph nodes; lymphatic metastasis; neoplasm staging; isosulfan blue; diagnostic accuracy; radiopharmaceuticals; rosaniline dyes; sentinel lymph node biopsy; technetium tc 99m sulfur colloid; accuracy; breast cancer; breast neoplasms; axillary lymph node; diagnostic value; predictive value of tests; axilla; drainage; lymphatic mapping; technetium sulfur colloid tc 99m; lymph flow; coloring agents; axillary metastases; humans; prognosis; human; female; article; multicentric breast cancers |
| Journal Title: | Breast Journal |
| Volume: | 8 |
| Issue: | 6 |
| ISSN: | 1075-122X |
| Publisher: | Wiley Blackwell |
| Date Published: | 2002-11-01 |
| Start Page: | 356 |
| End Page: | 361 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | 10.1046/j.1524-4741.2002.08605.x |
| PUBMED: | 12390358 |
| PROVIDER: | scopus |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Export Date: 14 November 2014 -- Source: Scopus |
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