Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was introduced at Ullevaal University Hospital in 2000. This article presents results from the first ten years use of the method. Material and Methods: A prospective registration of 2762 patients was made from 2000 through 2009. Results: The median follow-up time was 51 months. The overall detection rate was 93%. 36% of the patients with positive SNs had non-sentinel metastases. These were significantly associated with a macrometastatic SN and a primary tumour>20 mm. 18% of patients with sentinel metastasis≤2 mm had non-sentinel metastases. 14 patients with negative SN (0.7%) developed axillary recurrence. 32% with a preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were upstaged to infiltrating carcinoma on final histology. None of the patients with pure DCIS had positive SNs. Conclusion: Few late events (0.7%) in SN negative axillas demonstrate the safety of the technique.
KeywordsBreast CancerDuctal Carcinoma in SituSentinel NodeNon-Sentinel MetastasisAxillary Recurrence
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