Abstract:
Objective
To study the possibility of selective axillary lymph node dissection(ALND)according to the sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)technique through sentinel lymph channel (SLC)in patients receiving breast-conserving treatment(BCT).
Methods
In this non-randomized study,the SLNB technique with combinative tracer method through SLC was adopted in all patients receiving BCT.All sentinel lymph nodes(SLNs)were investigated by touch cytology and frozen section.According to the intraoperative pathologic results of SLNs,all patients received ALND or SLNB only.Patients in Group A received ALND when the SLNs were positive,patients in Group B received SLNB only in case of negative SLNs.The data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0.Chi-square test was used for comparison of the qualitative data and t test was used to compare the means between the two groups.
Results
From Jan.2009 to Dec.2009,43 patients received BCT and SLNB with combinative tracer method.A total of 42 patients were identified with SLNs(28 patients in Group A and 14 patients in Group B).Patients'SLCs of both groups were observed.The number of SLN harvested by SLNB was 1～3(average,1.4)per patient.A total of 59 were detected.The dissection rate of SLNB was 97.7% (42/43).We found positive SLN in 29 patients.The intraoperative positive SLNs detected by touch cytology,frozen section and joint pathological detection were 27,27 and 28,respectively.The ALND-related complication rate of Group A was higher than that of Group B (P =0.003).
Conclusion
SLNB through SLC helps to locate SLN accurately,direct selective ALND and decrease complications.
Key words:
Sentinel lymph node biopsy,
Sentinel lymph channel,
Breast conserving therapy,
Axillary lymph node dissection
Xiang CHEN, Shui WANG, Xiao-an LIU, Li-jun LING, Qiang Ding, Xiao-ming ZHA. Study of sentinel lymph node biopsy in directing selective axillary lymph node dissection in patients receiving breast-conserving therapy[J]. Chinese Journal of Breast Disease(Electronic Edition), 2010, 04(03): 252-258.