Evaluation of axillary lymph node involvement in patients with breast cancer according to sentinel lymph node involvement

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy is a useful way of assessing axillary nodal status and obviating the need for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the SLN biopsy in the correct prediction of ALN involvement. Thirty three patients with breast cancer that had been operated in Ayatollah Taleghani and Mehr hospitals in Tehran were enrolled in a prospective study. In these patients, at first SLN biopsy and then ALND was performed. SLN was found via radionuclide scintigraphy and blue dye during the surgery. Both SLN and ALN involvement were assessed by a pathologist. Mean age of the cases was 52.03±8.4. Accuracy of SLN in predicting ALN involvement was 90.91% (Confidence Interval: CI=95%: 77.88%-96.60%), sensitivity was 92% (Confidence Interval =95%: 75.03%- 97.78%) and specificity was 87.5% (CI =95%: 52.91%-97.76%). Success rate of SLN finding was high; so SLN biopsy can be used to determine the stage of breast cancer in hospitals and the centers which have these equipments.