| Abstract | BACKGROUND: The transaxillary approach plays a useful role for breast augmentation due to scar placement in a less visible position. However, the future impact of the procedure on the lymphatic drainage patterns and sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection remains controversial. To date, no information is available regarding the feasibility of SLN identification in patients with previous transaxillary breast augmentation (TBA). METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent primary TBA. Mean follow-up was 8.3 months. All patients were submitted to lymphoscintigraphy (LSG), with a dose of 0.1 mCi 99m-technetium-labeled dextran 1 week before (preop-LSG) and 10 days (Po10 days-LSG) after TBA. RESULTS: Preop-LSG was successful in all patients. Mean number of SLN detected was 2 per patient (range, 1 to 4) in the right axilla and 2.2 (range, 1 to 5) in the left. In Po10 days-LSG, SLN detection was successful in 92.3%. Mean number of SLN detected was 2.3 per patient (range, 0 to 7) in the right axilla and 1.8 (range, 0 to 6) on the left. Two patients (7.6%) failed to reveal the accumulation of radioactivity in Po10 days-LSG. Comparing bilaterally, in the number of SLN detected (P = 0.838) and the SLN uptake (P = 0.067) between Preop-LSG and Po10 days-LSG, no significant differences were observed. No major complication was noted. CONCLUSION: The initial data illustrate that SLN detection in the setting of prior TBA is feasible in a great part of patients. Additional long-term studies are necessary to investigate the accuracy of SLN biopsy in subgroups of breast cancer patients with previous breast implants. |
| Authors | Alexandre Mendonça Munhoz, Cláudia Aldrighi, Carla Ono, Carlos Buchpiguel, Eduardo Montag, Klaus Fells, Eduardo Arruda, Rolf Gemperli, José Mendes Aldrighi, Marcus Castro Ferreira
(Affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil. munhozalex at uol.com.br)
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| Journal | Annals of plastic surgery
(Ann Plast Surg)
Vol. 58
Issue 2
Pg. 141-9
(Feb 2007)
ISSN: 0148-7043 United States |
| PMID | 17245139
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
| Chemical References |
- Silicone Gels
- Technetium Compounds
- Dextrans
|
| Topics |
- Adult
- Axilla
(radionuclide imaging, surgery)
- Breast Implants
- Cohort Studies
- Dextrans
(diagnostic use)
- Feasibility Studies
- Female
- Humans
- Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
- Lymph
(physiology)
- Lymph Nodes
(radionuclide imaging)
- Mammaplasty
(methods)
- Postoperative Complications
(radionuclide imaging)
- Prospective Studies
- Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
- Silicone Gels
- Technetium Compounds
(diagnostic use)
|
