EVALUATION OF SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THE SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BIOPSY IN PATIENTS WITH EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCER WITHOUT AXILLARY INVOLVEMENT

Purpose: In this study, sentinel lymph node identification and false negative rates were calculated and determination of the place of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the evaluation of axilla in patients with early stage breast cancer was aimed. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed on 57 patients with early stage breast cancer who were treated at the Department of Surgery in Medical Faculty of Cukurova University between 2006-2009. Blue dye technique was performed in 35 (Group I) and the combined technique was performed in 22 patients (Group II). Axillary lymph node dissection was performed after sentinel lymph node biopsy on 46 patients who have invasive breast cancer. Results: Sentinel lymph node was not detected in two patients in Group I and one in Group II. Sentinel lymph node identification rate was 94.7% for all patients, and it was 94.2% in Group I and 95.4% in Group II. False negative rate was 26.3% for all patients which was 22.2% in Group I and 30.0% in Group II. Sentinel lymph node identification rate was increased to 96.8% and false negative rate decreased to 0% when the first 15 patients within the learning period was excluded from the statistical analysis. Conclusion: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a safe and effective technique on staging of axilla in patients with early stage breast cancer. Nevertheless, every medical center should perform sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection together untill getting experienced.