AIM To validate the feasibility and metastasis of sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast carcinoma. METHODS SLNs in breast carcinoma were dyed by methylene blue. All SLNs and nosentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs) were subjected to routine H&E histology. The patients with negative axillary lymph nodes were deeply evaluated by serial sections and immunohistochemical analysis to locate occult metastases. RESULTS SLN was identified in 30 of 35 patients (85.7%). Metastases were identified in 39.2% of SLNs and 11.3% of NSLNs. The odds were 5.1 times higher that metastases were detected in SLNs compared with NSLNs. Occult metastases were identified in 19.4% of SLNs and 2.2% of NSLNs. The odds were 10.7 times higher that occult metastases were be detected in SLNs compared with NSLNs. CONCLUSION SLN can predict presence or absence of axillary node metastases.
