Outcomes of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Using Blue Dye Method for Early Breast Cancer – A Single-Institution Experience in the Philippines

Figures & data

Table 1 Patients’ Clinical Characteristics

	N = 129	(%)
Age in years (Mean ± SD)	54.3 ± 12.4	–
Treatment
Total mastectomy	114	(88.4)
Breast conservation surgery	15	(11.6)
Final Biopsy of Specimen
Invasive ductal carcinoma	84	(65.1)
Invasive lobular carcinoma	35	(27.1)
Invasive mammary carcinoma	6	(4.7)
Invasive mucinous carcinoma	3	(2.3)
Invasive cribriform carcinoma	1	(0.8)
Biomarker Status
ER positive	89	(69)
PR positive	79	(61.2)
HER2 positive	37	(28.7)
Tumor size*
T1 (≤ 2cm)	61	(47.3)
T2 (> 2cm but ≤ 5 cm)	68	(52.7)
Positive for LVI	14	(10.9)
Tumor Grade
Grade 1	64	(49.6)
Grade 2	53	(41.1)
Grade 3	12	(9.3)

Note: *Based on the 8th AJCC Cancer Staging Manual.

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; ER, estrogen receptor; PR, progesterone receptor; HER2, Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2; LVI, lymphovascular invasion.

Table 2 Details of Intraoperative SLNB Findings

	N = 129	(%)
Successful SLNB by blue dye method	126	(97.7)
Number of SLN(s) Harvested
One	13	(10.3)
Two	32	(25.4)
Three	44	(35)
Four	26	(20.6)
≥ Five	11	(8.7)
Completion ALND performed	34	(26.4)
SLN(s) positive for metastasis	26	(20.1)
Macrometastases	20	(76.9)
Micrometastases	5	(19.2)
ITC	1	(3.9)
Failed to identify SLN	3	(2.3)
Clinical high suspicion of metastasis despite negative FS	3	(2.3)
Part of a validation study	2	(1.5)

Abbreviations: ITC, isolated tumor cells; SLNB, sentinel lymph node biopsy; SLN, sentinel lymph node; ALND, axillary lymph node dissection; FS, frozen Section.

Table 3 SLNB-Related Outcomes in 75 (Out of 95) Patients Who Underwent SLNB Only

	N = 75	(%)
Seroma formation	46	(61.3)
BCS (n = 10)	1
Total mastectomy (n = 65)	45
Hematoma formation	0	–
Surgical site infection	0	–
Lymphedema	0	–
Limitation of shoulder motion	0	–
Arm paresthesia	1	(1.3)
Local recurrence*	2	(2.7)
Regional recurrence	2	(2.7)

Note: *Both chest wall recurrences after total mastectomy.

Abbreviation: BCS, breast conservation surgery.