ABSTRACT
Sentinel node detection enables the definition of the most relevant draining lymph nodes of a tumor. The goal of this study was to evaluate technical feasibility of sentinel node detection in breast cancer and its predictivity of axillary node status. Twenty patients with early breast carcinoma were included in this study. Modified radical mastectomy was done for all patients. Lymphatic mapping procedures were performed by injection of patent blue dye in the peripheral portion of the tumor preoperatively .Sentinel lymph nodes were successfully identified in 17 of the 20 cases [85%] In the final histological examination, 15 [88.2%] of the 17 patients where sentinel nodes were identified, were histologically positive. The sentinel node was falsely negative in one case, yielding an accuracy of 94.1%. Sentinel node was the only site of metastases in 3 [20%] of 15 cases. Lymphatic mapping technique proved feasible, successful and the histology of the sentinel node can accurately predict the status of the remaining axillary lymph nodes