PURPOSE: Sentinel node (SN) biopsy is a reliable method for improved staging of @entity0 , offering an alternative to routine axillary dissection. Perhaps preoperative chemotherapy could increase the rate of false-negative SN because of induced lymphatic changes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of lymphoscintigraphy and of hand-held probe detection in the SN approach after chemotherapy, correlating it with histologic analysis of the axilla. METHODS: Eighty-three @entity1 (mean age, 53 years; TNM stage I) were studied prospectively. They were separated into two groups: group 1 (G1), 37 @entity1 with preoperative chemotherapy and group 2 (G2), 46 @entity1 without chemotherapy. Mean @entity5 size was 2 cm in both groups. Lymphoscintigraphy was performed 3 to 4 hours after peritumoral injection of Tc-99m dextran-70 in a 0.2-ml volume and activity of 14.8 MBq (0.4 mCi), performed under ultrasound or mammographic control. On the following day, each @entity1 underwent @entity5 resection with axillary dissection, included the SN. RESULTS: The SN was detected by scintigraphy in 78 @entity1 (94%). The failure of SN to predict the axillary histologic status was significantly higher (P = 0.01) in G1 than in G2 (7 and 1 false-negative result, respectively). CONCLUSION: Preoperative chemotherapy seems to impair axillary evaluation by SN biopsy and should be used cautiously in this subset of @entity1 .

Primary chemotherapy effect in sentinel node detection in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity0 :: ('MESH:D001943', 'Disease') :: ['breast cancer']
@entity0 :: (MESH:D001943,Disease) :: ['breast cancer']
