Onkológia 4/2008

IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXAMINATION IN DETECTING METASTASES IN SENTINEL LYMPH NODES IN BREAST CANCER WOMEN

The aim of the study was to assess importance of immunohistochemical (IHC) examination of sentinel lymph nodes in women with breast cancer. Totally, there were 143 patients operated at the Department of Surgery in Pardubice during 26 months. Sentinel nodes were examined by multilevel sectioning in 2 mm intervals. Each tissue block was examined by semi-serial sectioning by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) in all 143 cases; in case of negative result (111 cases), IHC examination with the anti-cytokeratin antibody (AE1/AE3) was performed. IHC examination does not improve detection of macrometastases, however, it can increase detection of micrometastases (by 1,8 %), as well as submicrometastases (by 9,9 %).

Keywords: sentinel lymph node, breast cancor, hematoxylin, eosin, immunohistochemical examination, submicrometastases