Accuracy of Imprint Cytology for Intraoperative Diagnosis of Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer in BMU

Author(s): Dr. Nazia Mahzabin, Prof. Dr. Samia Mubin, Prof. Dr. Md. Manir Hossain Khan, Prof. Md. Ibrahim Siddique

Background:

The prognosis of breast cancer is directly correlated with a quantitative burden, which is a continuous variable and is far more important than the simple presence or absence of nodal disease. Axillary management for patients with breast cancer is evolving, intending to maximize oncologic safety while minimizing surgical morbidity.

Objective:

This study aimed to assess the accuracy of imprint cytology for intraoperative diagnosis of sentinel lymph node metastasis in breast cancer in BMU.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery in Bangladesh Medical University (Previous Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from August 2022 to July 2023. A total of 24 participants, clinically and radiologically node negative early breast carcinoma patients who were operated in the mentioned hospital, were enrolled in this study appropriate statistical test (Chi-square test) was done to observe and compare intraoperative imprint cytology findings of sentinel lymph nodes with postoperative histopathology findings. Data processing was entered manually, and SPSS-24.0 was also used.

Results:

This study showed that, mean ±SD age was 41 ± 11.3 years. Twenty (83.3%) patients had negative sentinel lymph nodes by imprint cytology, and 4 (16.7%) had positive. Seventeen (70.8%) patients had negative sentinel lymph nodes by histopathology, and 7(29.2%) had positive. The sensitivity of imprint cytology was 57.1%, specificity was 83.3%, positive predictive value was 100%, negative predictive value was 85%, and diagnostic accuracy was 87.5%.

Conclusion:

Intraoperative imprint cytology is a useful method for evaluating axillary lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer.