Sentinel lymph node biopsy in operations for recurrent breast cancer

BackgroundIn a pilot prospective consecutive series on 50 patients with recurrent breast cancer, results of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) are reported. The interval between primary operation and recurrence was 8 years (range 1–18 years). Only three patients had not undergone dissection of the axilla (ALND).ResultsIn 51% of patients scintigraphy disclosed sentinel nodes (SN). At operation SN was identified in 45% of patients corresponding to 83% of the SN's visualized by the scintigraphy. SN contained metastases in seven cases (16%), and the treatment plan was changed as a consequence of the SN examination.ConclusionSLNB can identify SN at a high rate, and the findings may influence further planning of treatment. SLNB should be a future standard procedure in operations for recurrent breast cancer. Next step should be a randomized study.