Publications
The Accuracy of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients with Dye Technique
Raxith Srigeri, V V Vijayalekshmi, Medha Sugara, Paramesh S Shivanna, Jaiveer Singh Abstract
Introduction:
In recent years, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) has been largely replaced by sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) as the standard technique for axillary staging in patients with early stage breast cancer. There has been little data from Indian subcontinent regarding SLNB in locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) where complete ALND still remains the gold standard.
Materials and Methods:
Twenty one cases of LABC that had received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy were subjected to SLNB (using methylene blue dye) followed by complete ALND (Levels I–III). The sentinel lymph node (SLN) accuracy parameters were calculated employing standard definitions.
Results:
The SLN identification rate in the present study was 95.2%. The sensitivity of SLNB was 75% while overall, false negative rate (FNR) was 25%. With 3 or more SLNB improved sensitivity and decreased FNR.
Conclusions:
SLNB with methylene blue 'dye alone' method-cost effective, reliable, and almost as accurate as dual agent mapping method even in post-NACT LABC who become cN0.
