Objectives: To investigate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy for microinvasive ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.
Patients and methods: From January 2001 to January 2006, lymphatic mapping was performed using radiocolloid and/or blue dye technique. Full axillary lymph node dissection was accomplished systematically in 10 instances at the beginning of the study, and furthermore when the sentinel node was involved (macrometastatic or micrometastatic disease).
Results: Identification rate was 98% (40/41), the unsuccessful procedure occurred after incisional biopsy for diagnosis. The number of sentinel nodes removed was 2 in average (1-5). Sentinel node involvement was found in 10% of cases (4/40): 1 sentinel node macrometastasis pN1, 2 sentinel node micrometastases determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining pN1 (mi), 1 sentinel node micrometastasis detected only by immunohistochemical staining pN0 (mi).
Discussion and conclusion: Sentinel lymph node sampling should not be currently applied for management of every ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast but a selective utilization is proposed in documented high risk subset of patients according to clinical, mammographic, and histologic features obtained by percutaneous biopsies. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with proved or suspected microinvasion could be scheduled for sentinel node procedure a fortiori in cases undergoing mastectomy because of extensive DCIS before the occurrence of disturbances of lymphatic drainage induced by surgical breast dissection.