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Abstract
Objective:
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical outcomes of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with early-stage breast cancer at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.
Study Design:
Descriptive cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study:
Department of Surgical Oncology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi; conducted over six months after approval from CPSP and the Ethical Review Committee.
Methodology:
A total of 54 female patients aged 18–70 years with clinically and radiologically node-negative early-stage breast cancer (Stage I or II) were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Sentinel lymph node identification was performed using blue dye and/or radiocolloid or indocyanine green techniques, followed by histopathological analysis. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes. Postoperative complications, including seroma, lymphedema, and infection, were recorded. Diagnostic accuracy of SLNB was determined by comparing sentinel node histopathology with final axillary status.
Results:
The mean age of patients was 49.2 years, and the average tumor size was 2.6 cm. Sentinel lymph nodes were successfully identified in 100% of cases. Of the 54 patients, 18 (33.3%) had positive SLNs and underwent ALND. Postoperative complications included seroma (7.4%), lymphedema (3.7%), and infection (1.8%). SLNB demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting axillary metastasis.
Conclusion:
SLNB is a safe and accurate technique for axillary staging in early-stage breast cancer. It minimizes the need for extensive dissection, reduces postoperative complications, and maintains diagnostic reliability. Its broader implementation in surgical oncology practice in Pakistan is recommended.