P0192 Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer using only methylene blue dye: A prospective study in a rural tertiary care centre

Background Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy in women and is the leading cause of death in their middle age. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a reliable and minimally invasive diagnostic method to determine the regional nodal status in breast cancer and provides accurate staging, such that axillary lymph node dissection can be avoided in negative sentinel node patients. The aim of this study was to assess SLNB, using methylene blue dye, and its accuracy. The complications of using methylene blue dye were also studied. Methods 138 patients with breast cancer were subjected to SLNB (using methylene blue dye) followed by complete axillary lymph node dissection. The lymph nodes with positive dye were identified. The dye was injected 30 min prior to surgery and the stained lymph nodes were identified during dissection. The haemodynamics of the patients was assessed during and after the procedure. Patients were followed up in the post-operative period, and for the final histopathology report, complications such as wound healing and urine discolouration were assessed. Findings Of 138 patients with dye injected, 124 (89.85%) patients showed stained lymph nodes. Of 124 patients with positive stain, 67 (54.03%) patients showed evidence of malignancy. Of 67 patients with malignancy-positive lymph nodes, 18 patients had positive sentinel node only. In 49 patients, both sentinel and one or more axillary nodes were positive, whereas in 53 patients both nodal statuses were negative. Four patients had negative sentinel node and positive axillary node. All 14 patients in whom sentinel node could not be identified were negative for cancer in axillary nodes. Seven patients had minor dye-related complications. Interpretation SLNB with methylene blue dye alone can be considered in breast carcinoma as a reliable, accurate, cost effective, and safe method to detect lymph node status.