ABSTRACT
Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the value of serial sectioning and immunohistoehemistry(IHC)for the diagnosis of senfinel lymph node(SLNs)metastases in patients with breast cancer,and to evaluate the significance of mierometastases and isolated tunlor cells(ITCs)in the SLNs. Methods Eighty pailents with clinically node-negative breast cancer underwent SLN biopsy with both99mTc-labeled sulfur colloid and iBosulfan blue dye for SLN identification.All SLNS and non-SLNs were evalnated with standard H&E stain and IHC analysis. Results SLNs were successfully identified in 78 of 80 patients(97.5%),the isotope/blue dye concordanee rate was 76.5%for all SLNs.Thirty two patients (41%)had histologically positive SLNs,and 13(40.6%)of these patients hod SLNS with micrometastatic disease.In 14(43.8%)of these patients,the SLNs were the only nodes involved.The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of SLN biopsy in predicting axillary node stams were 96.9%,100%and 98.7%,reslaeetively.Patients with positive SLNs metastasis had a markedly higher proportion of non-SLNs metastases compared with those with only micrometastasis in the SLNS(78.9% vs 23.1%). Conclusions Serial sectioning and IHC ale sensitive methods for detecting breast cancer metastases in SLNS.The incidence of non-SLNs metastases is rather low in patients with SLNs that contain only micrometsstatic foci and ITCs.The prognostic significance and effect on surgical management of these occult disease have yet to be determined.