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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Breast Cancer: A Suitable Alternative to Routine Axillary Dissection in Multi-Institutional Practice When Optimal Technique Is Used

From the Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, J. Graham Brown Cancer Center, and Department of Mathematics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; Park Nicollett Clinic, Minneapolis, MN; St. Mary’s Medical Center and Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, IN; Norton Hospital, Louisville, and Central Baptist Hospital, Lexington, KY; LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT; Franciscan Medical Center, Dayton, and Kettering Memorial Hospital, Kettering, OH; Presbyterian Hospital, Charlotte, NC; and St. Agnes Healthcare, Baltimore, MD.

Address reprint requests to Kelly M. McMasters, MD, PhD, University of Louisville-Brown Cancer Center, 529 S Jackson St, Louisville, KY 40202; email kelly.mcmasters{at}nortonhealthcare.org

PURPOSE: Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for nodal staging of patients with breast cancer. However, unacceptably high false-negative rates have been reported in several studies, raising doubt about the applicability of this technique in widespread surgical practice. Controversy persists regarding the optimal technique for correctly identifying the SLN. Some investigators advocate SLN biopsy using injection of a vital blue dye, others recommend radioactive colloid, and still others recommend the use of both agents together.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 806 patients were enrolled by 99 surgeons. SLN biopsy was performed by single-agent (blue dye alone or radioactive colloid alone) or dual-agent injection at the discretion of the operating surgeon. All patients underwent attempted SLN biopsy followed by completion level I/II axillary lymph node dissection to determine the false-negative rate.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference (86% v 90%) in the SLN identification rate among patients who underwent single- versus dual-agent injection. The false-negative rates were 11.8% and 5.8% for single- versus dual-agent injection, respectively (P < .05). Dual-agent injection resulted in a greater mean number of SLNs identified per patient (2.1 v 1.5; P < .0001). The SLN identification rate was significantly less for patients older than 50 years as compared with that of younger patients (87.6% v 92.6%; P = .03). Upper-outer quadrant tumor location was associated with an increased likelihood of a false-negative result compared with all other locations (11.2% v 3.9%; P < .05).

CONCLUSION: In multi-institutional practice, SLN biopsy using dual-agent injection provides optimal sensitivity for detection of nodal metastases. The acceptable SLN identification and false-negative rates associated with the dual-agent injection technique indicate that this procedure is a suitable alternative to routine axillary dissection across a wide spectrum of surgical practice and hospital environments.

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