Intratumoral versus subareolar injection in breast cancer sentinel lymph node biopsy. A case report

Abstract

The use of deep (intratumoral, peritumoral) and superficial (subdermal, subareolar) administration is recognized as valid in sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer. Herein, we are presenting a clinical case in which a personalized methodology was a determining factor in axillary staging.

Initially, the radiotracer was injected intratumorally guided by ultrasound. The ultrasound scan identified a previously unknown axillary lymphadenopathy, with focal cortical thickening, this being a non-specific ultrasound finding, but with possibility of biopsy.

The lymphoscintigraphy did not show uptake in the mentioned node, hence, a second subareolar dose was administered. On this occasion, the lymphoscintigraphy detected drainage to the sentinel node, which was the only one positive for micrometastases