Purpose: The aim of the study is to review problematic aspects of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and to evaluate the influence of a previous excisional biopsy on these problems.
Materials and methods: A total of 345 patients were evaluated retrospectively, 156 of them had a previous biopsy. Tc-99m tin colloid was injected the day before surgery at 4 quadrants around the areola intradermally. Problems complicating SLNB are reviewed in 3 topics: visualization or gamma probe detection problems, dilated lymphatic channels, and misleading activity accumulation.
Results: SLN detection rate and mean sentinel lymph node numbers were as follows in patients with and without biopsy, respectively: 95.5% versus 99.4% and 1.71 +/- 0.97 versus 1.70 +/- 0.92. Problems complicating the procedure occurred in 20 patients (5.8%). Among these 20 patients, 15 had a prior excisional biopsy, and incisions were located in the upper, outer and periareolar zones. Visualization or gamma probe detection problems occurred in 8 patients. Except for one with faint uptake in a sentinel node, all had a prior biopsy. Lymphatic channel dilatation complicated the procedure in 7 patients. Of these 7 patients, 4 had a previous biopsy. Misleading activity accumulations compromised SLNB in 5 patients, 4 of whom had a prior biopsy.
Conclusion: Although SLNB is still applicable with a high success rate in cases with excisional biopsy, a review of problematic aspects of SLNB demonstrated a relation with the presence of a previous biopsy and its localization. The demonstration of nonvisualization preoperatively and the precise localization of atypically located activity accumulation may be helpful in the prevention of potential complications.