SUBAREOLAR VERSUS PERITUMORAL INJECTION OF METHYLENE BLUE FOR SENTINEL LYMPH NODE DETECTION IN CASES OF EARLY BREAST CANCER

Aim: To compare between subareolar and peritumoral injection of methylene blue dye for proper detection of sentinel lymph in cancer breast. Method: Eighty female patients with early breast cancer were randomly divided into two equal groups. In the first group blue dye was injected in the subareolar area. In the second group the dye was injected in the peritumoral region. Intra-operative identification of sentinel lymph node(s) was done and then all patients were subjected to complete axillary lymph nodes dissection. Histopathology examination of the tumor and all axillary lymph nodes including the sentinel node(s) was performed using haematoxylin and eosin stain. Results: Identification rate of the sentinel node was 100% in group A and 86.7% in group B. False negative rate was 0% sensitivity was 100% in both groups. Specificity was 80% in group A and 87.5% in group B. Positive predictive value was 71.43% and 83.3% in both group A B. Negative predictive value was 100% for both groups. Conclusion: We recommend usage of methylene blue subareolar injection as a safe and accurate technique for identification of sentinel lymph node in early cancer breast patients