Lymphoscintigraphy - important part of sentinel lymph node diagnosis in breast cancer

The sentinel lymph node diagnosis was first performed in melanoma by Morton in 1992. From this time sentinel identification method was used in breast cancer, thyroid cancer, GI tract cancer and others. In Surgical Oncology Department Medical University of Gdańsk, sentinel lymph node identification method is used from 1996 (melanoma) and 1998 (breast cancer).
Sentinel lymph node dissection is generally simple and safe method, but so-called learning curve is needed. The definition determine sabout 20 sentinel lymph node procedures with more experienced surgeon. After this the false-negative rate must not excced 5%.
Sentinel nodes were diagnosed in patients with operable breast cancer without palpable nodes. Authors present 3 cases from more than 200 patients in which sentinel procedure were performed with problems with sentinel node diagnosis. One-day-before operation lymphoscintigraphy was performed in all patients. Both colour and isotope methods were used as a part of surgical procedure.
In authors' opinion the lymphoscintigraphy is an important part of sentinel node diagnostic process. Indistinctly picture in lymphoscintigraphy may predict problems with sentinel localisation in surgery.
Authors discuss the differences in sentinel localisation in colour and isotope method together and separately. In these cases all, blue-dye and high-radioactive lymph nodes must be signified as sentinels.