Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Using Peritumoral Injection With Blue Dye Confirmation

Once the patient is asleep under anesthetic, they receive an intraoperative injection of 1.0 mCi of Technetium-99 sulfur colloid into normal breast tissue surrounding the primary cancer or biopsy cavity directed subareolar or around the tumor. This is followed by blue dye injected in the subareolar complex approximately 5 minutes prior to incision. The sentinel node biopsy is performed, followed by lumpectomy/mastectomy, and a completion axillary node dissection if the sentinel node(s) were positive.