Application effect of fine needle aspiration cytology and sentinel lymph nodes stain assisted by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early breast cancer

Objective To explore the application effect of fine needle aspiration cytology and sentinel lymph nodes stain assisted by contrast-enhanced ultrasound in early breast cancer. Methods A patient with early breast cancer enrolled in Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University received fine needle aspiration cytology assisted by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and the sentinel lymph nodes were stained with blue dye before a standard sentinel lymph nodes biopsy traced with indocyanine green. The axillary status accessed by these two methods were compared. Results Three sentinel lymph nodes were found and aspirated assisted by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Seven sentinel lymph nodes were obtained in sentinel lymph nodes biopsy surgery. All of these sentinel lymph nodes were negative. The stained sentinel lymph nodes could be recognized and dissected in open lymph nodes biopsy surgery. Conclusions Fine needle aspiration cytology assisted by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography could be a substitute for open sentinel lymph nodes biopsy. More related researches should be carry out to further compare these two methods. Key words: Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Ultrasonography, interventional; Biopsy, fine-needle