The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 187, Issue 1 , Pages 52-57, January 2004

Obesity and lymphatic mapping with sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer

  • Marybeth Hughes, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Ave., Suite 610, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
    • ,
  • Thomas G Goffman, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiation Oncology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
    • ,
  • Roger R Perry, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Ave., Suite 610, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
    • ,
  • Christine Laronga, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Ave., Suite 610, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1-757-446-8965; fax: +1-757-446-8951.

Received 6 December 2002; received in revised form 9 April 2003

Abstract 

Background

With increasing sentinel lymph node experience, patient subsets associated with lower success rates are being identified. Obesity may be one such subset.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted of breast cancer patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy from March 1997 to September 2002. Factors examined included demographics, body mass index (BMI), breast size, tumor characteristics, lymphoscintigraphy drainage, and success of mapping. Chi-square and exact P values were used for statistical analysis.

Results

One hundred seventy-four breast cancer patients had sentinel lymph node biopsy. Sixty-seven patients were normal weight (BMI <25.1); 56 patients were overweight (BMI 25.1 to 29.9); and 51 patients were obese (BMI >29.9). Failure to identify a sentinel lymph node and the false negative rate were not statistically different (P = 0.7783 and P = 0.9290, respectively) among the three groups.

Conclusions

Obesity has no significant effect on sentinel node identification rate or false negative rate.

Keywords:  Breast cancer, Sentinel lymph node, Biopsy, Obesity

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PII: S0002-9610(03)00439-2

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2003.04.004

The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 187, Issue 1 , Pages 52-57, January 2004

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