Internal Mammary Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer Patients With Clinically Axillary Node -Negative

Control Group: Each patient received the 1 intraparenchymal injection of 99mTc-SC (0.5\~1.0 mCi/0.5mL) in the tumor quadrant. Study Group: Two syringes of 0.25\~0.5 mCi 99mTc-SC in 0.2\~1.0 mL volume were injected intraparenchymally into 2 quadrants of breast, at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy

Four milliliters of methylthioninium was injected subcutaneously above the primary tumor or around the biopsy cavity 10 min before surgery

Sequential anterior and lateral gamma imaging was performed with patients lying prone and by injection side just before surgery using a digital gamma camera computer system (Toshiba GCA-901A/HG).

ALND was performed consequently if axillary SLNB was failure or axillary SLNs were positive.

Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy