Abstract
Indication of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNB) of breast cancer in relation to the clinicopathological factors and axillary lymph node metastasis was reexamined. The material of the study was 130 cases of primary breast carcinoma (90 cases with SNB, 40 cases without SNB) and SNBs were performed by combined fluorescent and dye method with indocyanine green and indigocarmine. In sentinel node (SN) metastasis positive group, compared with negative group, had more lymphatic tumor emboli positive cases in the primary tumor and had size of the invasive component larger than 11 mm in diameter. Connection between lymph node metastasis and lymphatic tumor emboli was observed also in no SNB group. No lymph node metastases were observed in T3N0 group. We thought the indication of SNB in the group with known positive or negative lymphatic tumor emboli in the primary tumor should be decided according to the result of needle biopsy or Mammotome (vacuum-assisted biopsy device) biopsy. We also thought the indication of SNB could possibly be extended to N1 and T3 group with maximum diameter of the tumor less than 10 mm.
