ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the value of interstitial magnetic resonance lymphography (MRL) to identify the sentinel lymph node (SLN) of breast cancer.Methods Totally 58 patients with invasive breast cancer were consecutive collected.15 mL of Gd-DTPA and 2 mL of mepivacain hydrochloride 2% were mixed and 0.5 mL of them was injected into the outside of the subareolar breast tissue.MRI was performed with Siemens 3.0 T Magnetom Trio MRI instrument using volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination sequence.Axillary lymph flow was tracked on maximum intensity projection (MIP) and sentinel lymph nodes were identified by interstitial MRL as M-SLN.All M-SLN were marked by a method of surface capsule localization.During surgery, methylene blue was used as tracer and SLNs stained by it were detected and excised by following the blue lymphatic vessels,these were designated as D-SLN.The numbers of SLNs detected by interstitial MRL and stained by methylene blue during operation were compared by paired samples rank-sum test and the correlation was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation test.Assessing the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of interstitial MRL for diagnosing M-SLN.Results A total of 75 M-SLNs (average 1.60 ± 0.52) were identified by interstitial MRL.During operation, all M-SLNs were easily resected under the guidance of skin marker.91 D-SLNs (average 1.94±0.63) were stained by methylene blue, which was significant more than those of the M-SLNs.There was a strong correlation (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.69,P<0.001) between the SLNs identified by these two methods.Interstitial MRL in diagnosing D-SLN metastasis of breast cancer had a sensitivity of 95.8%,specificity of 88.9%,and accuracy of 93.3%.Conclusion Interstitial MRL can accurately identify the axillary sentinel lymph node and guide the biopsy.It may have great clinical value in the future.