Comparison of a 1-day and a 2-day protocol for lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with nonpalpable breast cancer.
van Esser S, Hobbelink M, Van Isselt JW, Mali WP, Borel Rinkes IH, van Hillegersberg R.
Abstract
Purpose To compare the identification rate of the sentinel node in a 1-day protocol versus a 2-day protocol in patients with a nonpalpable breast carcinoma. Methods In the 1-day protocol an average dose of 120 MBq (99m)Tc-nanocolloid was injected intratumorally on the day of surgery, and in the 2-day protocol an average dose of 370 MBq (99m)Tc-nanocolloid was injected intratumorally the day before surgery. Both a gamma ray detection probe and patent blue were used to locate the sentinel node. Results In 57 of 67 patients (85%) treated in the 1-day protocol and in 51 of 56 patients (91%) treated in the 2-day protocol the sentinel node was detected (p=0.311). Of the patients in the 1-day protocol and the 2-day protocol, respectively, 18 (27%) and 13 (23%) showed metastasis (p=0.975) Conclusion There was no significant difference in the identification rate of the sentinel node between the 1-day protocol and the 2-day protocol in patients diagnosed with a nonpalpable breast carcinoma.