Sentinel node biopsy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become a safe and accurate alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the surgical management of early breast cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the false negative rate of SLNB in patients with advanced breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: Forty-eight patients with 49 advanced breast cancers (one patient had bilateral disease) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy. All of them had SLNB, followed by standard level I/II ALND. SLNs were identified in 47 out of 49 tumors (detection rate 95.9%). Results: Axillary nodal metastases were detected in 28 patients; SLNs were positive only in 14 patients. Four sentinel internal mammary nodes were removed in 4 patients, while one of them was positive with micrometastasis but axillary nodes were negative. False-negative results occurred in 2 (7.14%) patients. The results of our study confirm that SLNB in patients with advanced breast cancer is not significantly altered by the preoperative chemotherapy. Biopsy results were very similar to those without any neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: ALND, known for its serious complications, can be replaced in some cases by SLNB. © 2012 Zerbinis Medical Publications.