Tc-sulfur colloid (SC) for sentinel lymph node biopsy in early-stage breast cancer.
Methods:
A total of 150 early-stage breast
cancer patients (T
1-2
N
0
M
0
)(small-medium sized
dense breasts) were enrolled in the study. All patients were given deep injection of
99m
Tc-SC in two peritumoral points (37 MBq/point) one day before operation
and assigned to three groups (0.5 mL
1 mL and 1.5 mL) according to injection volume (n=50 each group). SPECT was performed 2 h post injection. The detection rates of axillary SLN (ASLN) and internal mammary SLN (IMSLN) by lymphoscintigraphy in all groups were compared.
Results:
The overall SLN detection rates were 96% (48/50 ) in 0.5 mL group
94% (47/50) in 1 mL group and 74% (37/50) in 1.5 mL group; ASLN detection rates were 90% (45/50)
82% (41/50) and 68% (34/50)
respectively; IM-SLN detection rates were 52% (26/50)
32% (16/50) and 18% (9/50)
respectively. There was no significant difference in the overall SLN detection rate and ASLN detection rate between groups 0.5 mL and 1 mL. But there was significant differences between groups 0.5 mL and 1.5 mL (
P
=0.001 and 0.004). For IM-SLN detection rate
there were statistical difference between 0.5 mL group and other two groups (
P
0.001). Injection pain scores were 3.341.02
4.581.31
5.061.42
and pain duration were (3.821.64)
(6.004.48) and (6.584.77) min from lower volume group to higher volume group. Group 0.5 mL had lowest injective pain score and shortest pain duration in three groups (
P
0.001).
Conclusion:
0.5 mL/point is the optimal injection volume in small-medium sized dense breasts
with higher SLN detection rate and higher sensitivity in IM-SLN localization. Less injection volume could decrease the pain and improve the comfort degree.