[The sentinal node: the Dijon experience].

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer and its capacity to predict axillary node status.
Material and Methods: Between February 2000 and June 2001, 70 patients with invasive breast carcinomas referred to the cancer center of Dijon, underwent lymphatic mapping (patent blue dye and lymphoscintigraphy with a gamma probe) and sentinel node biopsy followed by axillary clearance (Berg's level 1 and 2).
Results: A sentinel node was identified in 94.26% of the patients. We noted 2 false negative sentinel lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph node was involved in 32.8% of the patients and was the only node involved in 14.2% of the patients.
Conclusion: This study confirms the feasibility of sentinal node mapping, emphasizing the advantage of using two methods (patent blue dye and gamma probe). A learning curve is required. This procedure is not adapted for tumors larger than 3 cm because of a greater risk of sentinel node involvement and the need for a complete procedure with an axillary clearance.