Sentinel lymph node technique assessed in multifocal breast cancer (n=216)

This phase 2, single-center trial assessed the sentinel lymph node (SLN) technique in patients with multifocal breast cancer. The study enrolled 216 patients and had a median follow-up of 53.4 months. The intervention was the sentinel lymph node technique, which was performed using one of three methods: a combined subareolar injection of technetium and blue dye; subareolar injection of technetium only in cases of blue dye allergy; or blue dye injection only if radioactive isotope injection was not possible. These procedures were performed either the day before or the day of surgery. Immediately following SLN identification, all patients underwent a complete axillary dissection during their breast cancer surgery. The study concluded for each patient upon completion of the anatomopathologic analysis of both the sentinel lymph node and axillary dissection samples, along with histologic confirmation of the multifocal nature of the breast cancer from the removed tumor. The primary outcome measure was the detection rate of sentinel nodes. The study was conducted by Centre Oscar Lambret, started in March 2006, and reached primary completion on August 13, 2010. The abstract does not report specific results for the detection rate, safety outcomes, or detailed study limitations.