Prospective multicentric randomized study comparing periareolar and peritumoral injection of radiotracer and blue dye for the detection of sentinel lymph node in breast sparing procedures: FRANSENODE trial.

PURPOSE: To determine the optimal injection path for blue dye and radiocolloid for sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in early breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective randomized multicentric study was initiated to compare the peritumoral (PT) injection site to the periareolar (PA) site in 449 patients. RESULTS: The detection rate of axillary SLN by lymphoscintigraphy was significantly higher (P = .03) in the PA group (85.2%) than in the PT group (73.2%). Intraoperative detection rate by blue dye and/or gamma probe was similar (99.11%) in both groups. The rate of SLN detection was somewhat higher in the PA group than in the PT group: 95.6% versus 93.8% with blue dye (P = .24) and 98.2% versus 96.0% by probe (P = .16), respectively. The number of SLNs detected by lymphoscintigraphy and by probe was significantly higher in the PA group than in the PT group, 1.5 versus 1.2 (P = .001) and 1.9 versus 1.7 (P = .02). The blue and hot concordance was 95.6% in the PA group and 91.5% in the PT group (P = .08). The mean ex vivo count of the SLN was significantly higher in the PA group than in the PT group (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: This study strongly validates the PA injection technique given the high detection rate (99.1%) of SLN and the high concordance (95.6%) between blue dye and the radiotracer, as well as higher significant ex and in vivo counts, improving SLN probe detection.

Bilateral breast metastases from ewing sarcoma of the femur.

We report a case of bilateral breast metastases from Ewing sarcoma of the femur. A 40-year-old woman presented with Ewing sarcoma of the left thigh, treated by complete surgical exeresis and chemotherapy. Secondary, a large tumor appeared in the left breast. Bone scintigraphy, chest, and abdominal computed tomographic scan were normal. A breast biopsy found a malignant tumor composed of small round cells consistent with the initial diagnosis. After the first cycle of chemotherapy, a tumor was discovered in the controlateral breast. After 5 cycles, residual tumors persisted in the 2 breasts. Tumor exeresis was performed and found bilateral breast metastases of Ewing sarcoma. Because of the early recurrence of the left breast tumor, segmentectomy of the right breast and left mastectomy were performed. The histopathological analysis confirmed Ewing sarcoma metastases in the left breast. Despite local radiotherapy, the clinical course was marked by lumbar bone metastasis, local chest evolution, and progression of the disease. Metastases to the breast by extramammary malignant neoplasms are unusual. Sarcoma is an extremely rare cause of breast metastases and our case is the first report of breast metastases from Ewing sarcoma.