Accuracy and validity of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer using a photosensitizer: 8-year follow-up.

Background And Objective: We evaluated an alternative procedure for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer after approval of the study by the Ethics Committee of Tokyo Medical University Hospital in 2004. We examined the efficacy and safety of SLNB using the photosensitizer talaporfin sodium (Laserphyrin®, Meiji Seika Pharma, Tokoyo, Japan), compared with current methods.

Study Design/patients And Methods: The study included 21 breast cancer patients (Japanese women; median age, 54 years; range, 35-75).