Intraoperative radiocolloid injection for sentinel node biopsy postneoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: This study sought to determine significance of radiocolloid injection timing for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Material And Methods: A retrospective comparison of intraoperative (IRCI) and preoperative (PRCI) radiocolloid injection for SNB was performed in breast cancer patients who had completed NAC. The sentinel node identification rate (SNIDR) was tested for noninferiority by a two-proportion z-test.

Intraoperative injection of radiocolloid for sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer.

Unlabelled: Preoperative injection of radiocolloid for axillary sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer is uncomfortable for patients. This study evaluated the reliability of radiocolloid injection as determined by sentinel node identification rate and positive sentinel node biopsy rate, after the patient has been anesthetized in the operating room as compared with preoperative injection.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective cohort of patients with breast cancer who underwent sentinel node biopsy from January 2005 through December 2010 was evaluated for analysis.