Discrepancies in current practice of pathological evaluation of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer. Results of a questionnaire based survey by the European Working Group for Breast Screening Pathology

• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2003.013599
• Publication Date: 2004-06-25T17:53:26Z
• Authors: G Cserni; I Amendoeira; N Apostolikas; J P Bellocq; S Bianchi; W Boecker; B Borisch; C E Connolly; T Decker; P Dervan; M Drijkoningen; I O Ellis; C W Elston; V Eusebi; D Faverly; P Heikkila; R Holland; H Kerner; J Kulka; J Jacquemier; M Lacerda; J Martinez-Penuela; C De Miguel; J L Peterse; F Rank; P Regitnig; A Reiner; A Sapino; B Sigal-Zafrani; A M Tanous; S Thorstenson; E Zozaya; G Fejes; C A Wells
• Keywords: Micrometastasis; Surgical pathology

To evaluate aspects of the current practice sentinel lymph node (SLN) pathology in breast cancer via a questionnaire based survey, to recognise major issues that European guidelines for mammography screening should address next revision.A was circulated by mail or electronically authors their respective countries. Replies from units dealing with SLN specimens were evaluated further.Of 382 respondents, 240 specimens. Sixty per cent these carried out intraoperative assessment, most commonly consisting frozen sections. Most slice larger SLNs into pieces and only 12% assess slices on single haematoxylin eosin (HE) stained slide. Seventy one routinely use immunohistochemistry all cases negative HE. The terms micrometastasis, submicrometastasis, isolated tumour cells (ITCs) are used 93%, 22%, 71% units, respectively, but have rather heterogeneous interpretation. Molecular staging reported 10 (4%). institutions own processing, some countries also well recognised national guidelines.Pathological examination throughout Europe varies considerably is not standardised. focus standardising examination. They recommend techniques identify metastases > 2 mm as minimum standard. Uniform reporting additional findings may be important, because micrometastases ITCs future shown clinical relevance.