Breast Cancer Cells in the Afferent Lymphatic Tracts of Sentinel Lymph Nodes
Prakasit Chirappapha MD*, Kampol Ratchaworapong MD*, Sansanee Wongwaisayawan MD**, Panuwat Lertsithichai MD*, Ronnarat Suvikapakornkul MD*, Yodying Wasuthit MD*, Youwanush Kongdan MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : To identify breast cancer cells in the afferent lymphatic tracts of axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs).
Material and Method: The authors performed a prospective study of 100 breast cancer patients who underwent SLN biopsy
between June 2009 and January 2010. The afferent lymphatic tracts of SLNs were identifi ed by isosulfan blue or radiocolloid
or both and were examined histologically.
Results : One hundred three SLNs and afferent lymphatic tracts were examined. The mean age of the patients was 53.2 years
(range, 24 to 78 years). The median number of SLNs was 2 (range, 1 to 7). Twenty-four (24%) patients had positive SLNs.
Most patients had stage I breast cancer (67%). Three patients with positive SLNs (13%) and stages IIB-IIIC breast cancers
had tumor cells in the afferent tract tissue. There were no tumor cells in the afferent tracts of negative SLNs.
Conclusion : Only a small proportion of operable breast cancer patients have tumor cells in the afferent lymphatic tract
tissue of SLNs. There was a probable trend for more advanced stage breast cancer to harbor tumor cells in the afferent
lymphatic tract tissue.
Keywords : Sentinel lymph node, Breast cancer, Afferent lymphatic tract
