ObjectiveTo explore the influence of sentinel lymph node (SLN) status on the prognosis of elderly breast cancer patients ≥70 years old, and to screen patients who may be exempted from sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), so as to guide clinical individualized treatment for such patients. MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on 270 breast cancer patients aged ≥70 years old who underwent SLNB in the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from 2012 to 2021. The clinicopathological characteristics of the total cases were compared according to the status of SLN. Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the survival curve, and the influence of SLN status on the overall survival (OS) time, local recurrence (LR) and distant metastasis (DM) of patients were analyzed, and used log-rank to compare between groups. At the same time, the patients with hormone receptor (HR) positive were analyzed by subgroup. The differences between groups were compared by single factor χ2 test, and multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze and determine the factors affecting OS, LR and DM of patients. ResultsThe age of 270 patients ranged from 70 to 95 years, with a median age of 74 years. One hundred and sixty-nine (62.6%) patients’ tumor were T2 stage. Invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for 83.0%, histological gradeⅡ accounted for 74.4%, estrogen receptor positive accounted for 78.1%, progesterone receptor positive accounted for 71.9%, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative accounted for 83.3%. The number of SLNs obtained by SLNB were 1-9, and the median was 3. SLN was negative in 202 cases (74.8%) and positive in 68 cases (25.2%). Thirty-five patients (13.0%) received axillary lymph node dissection. There was no significant difference in LR between the SLN positive group and the SLN negative group (P>0.05), but the SLN negative group had fewer occurrences of DM (P=0.001) and longer OS time (P=0.009) compared to the SLN positive group. The results of univariate and multivariate analysis suggest that the older the patient, the shorter the OS time and the greater the risk of DM. Analysis of HR positive subgroups showed that SLN status did not affect patient survival and prognosis, but age was still associated with poor OS time and DM. ConclusionsFor patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of breast in T1-T2 stage, HR positive, clinical axillary lymph nodes negative, and age ≥70 years old, SLNB may be exempted. According to the patient’s performance or tumor biological characteristics, patients who need systemic adjuvant chemotherapy may still consider SLNB.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and operation effect of endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） in breast cancer. Methods The data of 410 breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB （including 107 patients with endoscopy and 303 with open operation） were analyzed in our hospital from January 2009 to March 2012. SLNB was performed by using methylene blue staining or the combination of methylene blue and 99Tcm-sulfur colloid tracing. Results The successful rate of SLN detection with methylene blue and 99Tcm-sulfur colloid tracing was 94.56% （139/147） in open operation group and 94.25% （82/87） in endoscopy group. The successful rate of SLN detection with methylene blue was 88.46% （138/156）in open operation group and 85.00% （17/20） in endoscopy group. The mean of detected SLN number with combined method or methylene blue was 1.90/1.98 in open operation group and 1.91/1.82 in endoscopy group respectively. SLN-positive rate was 22.30% （31/139） and 25.36% （35/138） in open operation group， and 19.51% （16/82） and 23.53% （4/17） in endoscopy group， respectively. The rate of subcutaneous effusion in endoscopy group was higher than that in open operation group （P=0.001）, but other postoperative complications presented no significant difference. Conclusions Endoscopic SLNB can obtain the similar safety and the clinical efficacy with traditional SLNB， but superior cosmetic effect. So it is worthy of clinical application in breast cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the metastatic status and risk factors of axillary non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) in breast cancer patients with 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), and to provide theoretical basis for exemption of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in these patients. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 54 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and confirmed to have 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLNS) and received ALND in the Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery of Tongling People’s Hospital from January 2018 to April 2023. The patients were divided into NSLN metastatic group (17 cases) and NSLN non-metastatic group (37 cases) according to whether there was metastasis. Chi-square test was used to compare the basic information and clinicpathological features of the two groups. The independent risk factors for axillary NSLN metastasis were screened out by multivariate binary logistic regression model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of independent risk factors combined with axillary NSLN metastasis. Results There were 54 cases with 1–2 metastasis of SLN, 17 cases with axillary NSLN metastasis (31.5%). The incidence of axillary NSLN metastasis in patients with tumor at T1 stage (maximum diameter ≤2 cm) was only 14.3% (4/28), however, the metastatic rate of axillary NSLN in patients with tumor in T2–T3 stage (maximum diameter >2 cm) was as high as 50.0% (13/26). The axillary NSLN metastasis rate was only 21.2% (7/33) with 1 SLN metastasis, while the axillary NSLN metastasis rate was 47.6% (10/21) with 2 SLN metastasis. Univariate analysis showed that T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm), 2 SLN metastases, number of SLN >5 and tumor with vascular embolus were more likely to develop axillary NSLN metastases (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm) and 2 SLN metastases were independent risk factors for axillary NSLN metastasis in breast cancer patients, the area under ROC curve of combined prediction of axillary NSLN metastasis by the two was 0.747, 95%CI was (0.657, 0.917), sensitivity was 0.765 and specificity was 0.649. Conclusions The combination of tumor T stage and the number of SLN metastases can better predict axillary NSLN metastasis in breast cancer patients. ALND is recommended for breast cancer patients with T stage (tumor diameter >2 cm) and 2 SLN metastases to reduce the risk of residual axillary NSLN metastasis.
Objective To explore the feasibility of breast cancer patients in China with 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) to avoid axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Methods A total of 328 patients who received sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in our hospital from 2010 to 2016 were collected retrospectively, and patients met the criteria of Z0011 clinical trials (which required no acceptance of neoadjuvant therapy, clinical tumor size was in T1/T2 stage, two or less positive SLNs were detected, received breast-conservation surgery, acceptance of whole breast radiotherapy after surgery and neoadjuvant systemic treatment) were enrolled to breast-conservation group. Patients met the criteria of Z0011 clinical trials, excepting the surgery (received non-breast-conservation surgery), were enrolled to non- breast-conservation group. Comparison of clinicopathological features between the breast-conservation group/non-breast-conservation group and the Z0011 ALND group was performed. Results Among the 328 patients, only 29 patients (8.8%) completely correspond with the results of Z0011 clinical trials. There was no statistical significance between the breast-conservation group and the Z0011 ALND group in the age, clinical T stage, expression of estrogen (ER), expression of progesterone (PR), pathological type, histological grade, number of positive lymph nodes, and incidence of non-sentinel node metastasis (P>0.05). A total of 81 patients were included in the non-breast-conservation group. It showed no statistical significance between the non-breast-conservation group and the Z0011 ALND group in expressions of ER and PR, and histological grade (P>0.05), while there was statistically significant difference in age, clinical T stage, pathological type,number of positive lymph nodes, and incidence of non-sentinel node metastasis (P<0.05). Patients in the non-breast-conservation group showed a lower age, higher percentage of lobular carcinoma and T2 stage, more positive lymph nodes, and high incidence of non-sentinel node metastasis. Conclusion It’s feasible for Z0011 clinical trials results to be used in the clinical practice of our country, but the actual situation of breast conservation in our country may lead to low adaptive population.
Objective To explore the clinical application of combination of radiolabeled colloid （99Tcm-sulphur colloid） and blue dye in sentinel lymph node biopsy （SLNB） for early-stage breast cancer. Methods SLNB was performed with the guidance of blue dye, radiolabeled colloid, and the combination method in all patients enrolled, and clinical and pathological data were recorded respectively for analysis. Results Two hundred and one patients were enrolled in this study and the SLN were successfully detected in 200 cases. The identification rate of radiolabeled colloid method and combination method was 99.5% （200/201） and 99.5% （198/199） respectively, which significantly higher than blue dye method （85.4%, P＜0.001）. There were no differences of accuracy rate 〔95.3% （162/170） vs. 94.5% （189/200） vs. 98.0% （194/198）, P=0.185〕 and false negative rate 〔11.3% （8/71） vs. 13.9% （11/79） vs. 5.1% （4/79）, P=0.165） between blue dye method, radiolabeled colloid method, and combination method. The combination method could detect more SLN than radiolabeled colloid method or blue dye method only （P＜0.001）. Compared to combination method, there were 12 and 7 patients miss diagnosed in blue dye method and radiolabeled colloid method, and the miss diagnosed rate was 16.0% （12/75） and 9.3% （7/75）, respectively. Conclusions Compared to radiolabeled colloid and blue dye method, combination method has higher identification rate, and could identify more SLNs. It is recommended that the combination of radiolabeled colloid and blue dye should be adapted for procedure of SLNB in clinical practice.
ObjectiveTo explore the risk factors affecting sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in patients with early-stage (N0) breast cancer and establish a predictive model for SLN metastasis, so as to assist in decision-making of axillary surgery in clinical practice. MethodsThe unilateral early-stage breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment and SLN biopsy at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from September 2020 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects. The univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were adopted to analyze the relevant risk factors of SLN metastasis, then a predictive model evaluating the risk of SLN metastasis was constructed. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the distinguishing ability of risk factors for SLN metastasis. ResultsA total of 351 patients with early-stage breast cancer patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled, 136 of whom with SLN metastasis, the SLN metastasis rate was 38.7%. The results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum tumor diameter >2.5 cm, estrogen receptor (ER) positive, Ki-67 >20%, and vascular invasion were the risk factors affecting SLN metastasis [maximum tumor diameter: OR(95%CI)=1.897(1.186, 3.034), P=0.008; ER positive: OR(95%CI)=2.721(1.491, 4.967), P=0.001; Ki-67 >20%: OR(95%CI)=1.825(1.125, 2.960), P=0.015; vascular invasion: OR(95%CI)=2.858(1.641, 4.976), P<0.001]. The AUC for the SLN metastasis by these four factors was 0.693(0.637, 0.749), with a sensitivity and specificity of 70.59% and 57.21%, respectively. ConclusionsThe results from this study suggest that SLN biopsy is recommended to guide postoperative adjuvant treatment strategies for cN0 early-stage breast cancer patients with a maximum tumor diameter >2.5 cm, ER positivity, Ki-67>20%, and vascular invasion. However, the predictive model constructed based on these four factors in this study has a general ability to distinguish the occurrence of SLN metastasis, then the reasons can be further analyzed in the future.
ObjectiveTo explore the factors associated with non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis in early breast cancer patients with 1-2 positive sentinel lymph nodes (SLN), seeking the basis for exempting some SLN-positive patients from axillary lymph node dissection. MethodsA total of 299 early breast cancer patients who were diagnosed with positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and underwent axillary lymph node dissection at the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2019 to April 2023 were selected. Univariate analysis was performed on the clinical and pathological data of patients, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors related to axillary non-sentinel lymph node (NSLN) metastasis of patients with SLN positive in early breast cancer. GraphPad Prim 9.0 was used to draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under curve (AUC) of ROC was calculated to quantify the predictive value of risk factors. ResultsAmong the 299 breast cancer patients with 1-2 SLN positive, 101 cases (33.78%) were NSLN positive and 198 cases (66.22%) were NSLN negative. Univariate analysis showed that the number of positive SLN, clinical T staging and lymphovascular invasion were related to the metastasis of NSLN (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that having 2 positive SLN [OR=3.601, 95%CI (2.005, 6.470), P<0.001], clinical T2 staging [OR=4.681, 95%CI (2.633, 8.323), P<0.001], and presence lymphovascular invasion [OR=3.781, 95%CI (2.124, 6.730), P<0.001] were risk factors affecting axillary NSLN metastasis. The AUCs of the three risk factors were 0.623 3, 0.702 7 and 0.682 5, respectively, and the AUCs all were greater than 0.6, suggesting that the three risk factors had good predictive ability for NSLN metastasis. ConclusionThe number of positive SLN, clinical T staging, and lymphovascular invasion are related factors affecting NSLN metastasis in early breast cancer patients with positive SLN, and these factors have guiding significance for whether to exempt axillary lymph node dissection.
Objective To understand the current research status of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in colorectal cancer. Methods Literatures about the application of SLN biopsy in the field of colorectal surgery were collected and reviewed. Results The results of SLNs biopsy accurately reflected the status of the nodal basin. Focused examination of the SLNs could identify micrometastases that might otherwise had been missed by standard histopathological analysis, thus upstaged this group of patients. Conclusion SLN biopsy represents a new and effective technique to predict the tumor status of regional lymph nodes, which offers a potential alternative to improve the accuracy of tumor staging in colorectal cancer.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of fluorescence tracer technique in sentinel lymph node (SLN) orientation of cN0 papillary thyroid cancer. MethodsThe total clinical data of 40 cT1-3N0M0 thyroid cancer patients admitted from January 2015 to January 2016 in our hospital were collected, and the SLN with indocyanine green (ICG) as fluorescent trace agent were observed and detected, and the effect of ICG detecting SLN and the guide role of SLNB on the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes by intraoperative frozen biopsy pathology and postoperative paraffin pathology were analyzed. ResultsA total of 40 thyroid cancer patients were treated by SLNB and then conducted by the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes, and 37 cases detected SLN, so the detection rate was 92.5% (37/40). And a total of 98 SLNs were detected, 1-5 for each case, average of 2.65/case. Intraoperative frozen pathological detected 28 cases of patients with metastases in SLN, and 9 patients without metastasis, including 1 case with postoperative pathology detecting micrometastasis in SLN and other 8 cases without metastasis in the central area of neck lymph nodes. Three cases who were not detected the SLN showed no metastases in final postoperative paraffin pathology. The SLNB of ICG fluorescent tracer was with a sensitivity of 96.6% (28/29), false-negative rate of 3.45% (1/29). ConclusionThe fluorescent tracer technique can guide the dissection of the central of neck lymph node of cN0 thyroid cancer patients accurately with a high detection rate and advantages of high sensitivity in detecting the SLN of thyroid cancer.
Objective To evaluate the feasibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping after 99Tcm sulfur colloid (99Tcm-sc) and carbon nanoparticles injection in patients with colon cancer. Methods Forty patients with colon cancer underwent complete mesocolic excision between August 2015 and July 2016 at Qingdao Central Hospital were considered for prospective inclusion. Before resection, SLN mapping was performed with injection of 99Tcm-sc and carbon nanopar-ticles, then all dissected lymph nodes were detected by pathological examination. Results A total of 660 cases of lymph nodes were found in the 40 patients (average of 16.5 cases per patient). Of them, 88 nodes (average of 2.2 cases per patient) were identified as SLN in 36 of 40 patients, with a successful detection rate of 90.0% (36/40). The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and false-negative rate were 87.5% (35/40), 96.2% (25/26), and 3.8% (1/26) respectively. Conclusion 99Tcm-sc and carbon nanoparticles suspension injection for mapping SLN is a feasiblely diagnostic method for predicting local lymph node metastasis in the patient with colon cancer.