Axillary node dissection is considered a standard staging procedure in patients with breast cancer. The procedure is associated with significant morbidity and provides pathologists with many lymph nodes to evaluate.
Methods
A total of 174 women participated in a trial that included preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative lymphatic mapping using a combination of a vital blue dye and radiocolloid mapping.
Results
The intraoperative lymphatic mapping correctly identified a sentinel lymph node (SLN) in 160 (92%) of 174 patients. One skip metastasis (0.7%) occurred in 136 women who had a subsequent complete node dissection.
Conclusions
Lymphatic mapping and SLN biopsy using a combination of mapping techniques provide accurate nodal staging for women with breast cancer. With this technique, approximately 70% to 80% of women with no axillary metastases could be spared the morbidity of a complete node dissection.
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