Intradermal isotope injection is superior to intramammary in sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Martin, R. C. G.; Derossis, A. M.; Fey, J.; Yeung, H.; Yeh, S. D. J.; Akhurst, T.; Heerdt, A. S.; Petrek, J.; VanZee, K. J.; Montgomery, L. L.; Borgen, P. I.; Cody, H. S. 3rd
Article Title: Intradermal isotope injection is superior to intramammary in sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer
Abstract: Background. The optimal sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy technique remains undefined in breast cancer. Injecting radiotracer or blue dye by a variety of routes seems to stage the axilla with comparable accuracy, and we have hypothesized that the dermal and the parenchymal lymphatics of the breast drain to the same SLN in most patients. Two previous studies from our institution support this concept: (1) a single-surgeon series of 200 consecutive SLN biopsy procedures demonstrating a high dye-isotope concordance for both intradermal (ID) and intraparenchymal (IP) isotope injection, and (2) a series of 100 procedures validated by a backup axillary dissection (ALND) in which the false-negative rate following ID isotope injection was comparable to that of our previous results with IP injection. Here, we directly compare the results of SLN biopsy using either ID or IP isotope injection for our entire experience of SLN biopsy procedures in which a backup ALND was done. Methods. This is a retrospective, nonrandomized study of 298 clinical stage I to II breast cancer patients having SLN biopsy with a backup ALND planned in advance, comparing the results of ID (n = 164) and IP (n = 134) isotope injection. All patients had IP injection of blue dye. Endpoints included (1) successful SLN identification, (2) false-negative rate, (3) dye-isotope concordance, and (4) the SLN/axillary background isotope count ratio. Results. ID isotope was more successful than IP, identifying the SLN in 98% versus 89% of cases, respectively. False-negative results (4.8% vs 4.4%) and dye-isotope concordance (92% vs 93%) were comparable between the 2 groups, and SLN/axillary background isotope count ratios were significantly higher with ID than with IP injection (288/1 vs 59/1). Conclusions. ID isotope injection identifies the SLN more often than IP, stages the axilla with comparable accuracy, and is associated with higher levels of SLN isotope uptake. The dermal and parenchymal lymphatics of the breast drain to the same axillary SLN in most breast cancer patients, and ID isotope injection is the procedure of choice in this setting.
Keywords: adult; human tissue; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; retrospective studies; cancer staging; lymph node dissection; neoplasm staging; isosulfan blue; diagnostic accuracy; laboratory diagnosis; lymph node excision; sentinel lymph node biopsy; breast cancer; breast; breast neoplasms; intermethod comparison; tracer; injections, intradermal; axilla; radioisotopes; false negative reactions; drug tumor level; injections; technetium sulfur colloid tc 99m; drain; humans; human; male; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: Surgery
Volume: 130
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0039-6060
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2001-09-01
Start Page: 432
End Page: 438
Language: English
DOI: 10.1067/msy.2001.116412
PUBMED: 11562666
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Samuel D J Yeh
    107 Yeh
  2. Jeanne Ann Petrek
    91 Petrek
  3. Kimberly J Van Zee
    293 Van Zee
  4. Hiram S Cody III
    242 Cody
  5. Henry W D Yeung
    126 Yeung
  6. Robert Martin
    20 Martin
  7. Alexandra S Heerdt
    110 Heerdt
  8. Patrick I Borgen
    253 Borgen
  9. Timothy J Akhurst
    139 Akhurst
  10. Jane Fey
    66 Fey