Role of lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymphadenectomy in management Of patients with breast carcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate sentinel node biopsy in patients with breast carcinoma, to avoid axillary dissection in those with clinically negative lymph nodes .

The study included 20 female patients suffering from breast carcinoma, TNM

stages & II .

All patients were subjected to :

•Full history taking

• Meticulous clinical examination, including axilla for any clinically palpable lymph nodes . • Routine laboratory investigations

• Plain X-ray chest

•Liver ultrasonography .

•Lymphatic mapping

Intraoperative injection of 3 to 5 ml of patent blue vital dye with a 25 gauge needle into the breast mass and surrounding breast parenchyma. A standard interval of approximately 5 minutes is used . A transverse incision is made just• below the hair bearing region of the axilla. Blunt dissection is performed until a lymphatic tract or blue stained node(s) is identified . The dye filled tract is

- dissected to the first blue lymph node..