Case report: complete lymphatic staging in breast cancer by lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy
Leidenius, M.H.; Ortiz, A.; Rönkä, R.H.; Leppänen, E.A.; Krogerus, L.A.; von Smitten, K.A.
International Surgery 87(3): 160-163
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-8868 PMID: 12403091 Document Number: 546462
The status of the lymph nodes in the axilla and in the internal mammary chain are the most significant prognostic factors for survival in breast cancer. Lymphoscintigraphy shows lymphatic drainage outside the axilla, most often to the internal mammary nodes, usually in 20% to 30% of breast cancer patients, when intraparenchymal techniques of the radioactive tracer injection are used. Lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel node biopsy are potential tools for more accurate staging in breast cancer, because they provide additional information compared to axillary staging alone. We report a breast cancer case with 10 hot spots in five different lymphatic basins (axilla, internal mammary chain, intramammary, infraclavicular, and high interpectoral) in the lymphoscintigraphy.