Combined Frozen Section and Imprint Smear Assessment of Sentinel Node Improves Accuracy and Reduces False Negative Rates in Breast Cancer: A Prospective Study

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard of care for clinically negative operable breast cancer. However, the best technique intra-operative assessment SLN still remains a matter research. Accuracy frozen section (FS), which widely used detecting metastasis in varies from 79 to 89% with false rate being 5.5 43%. This study was hence done evaluate if combined intraoperative FS and imprint cytology (IC) evaluation improves accuracy reduces In this prospective cohort study, patients cancer axillary status (N0) were included. SLNB using combination radionuclide tracer blue dye. Smears prepared SLNs excised then sent section. Diagnostic indices section, cytology, assessed terms sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, likelihood ratios, rate, overall 95% confidence intervals taking final histopathology as “gold standard.” Eighty-one cases both IC reports available included analysis. Sensitivity (93.8%; CI 69.8–99.8%), specificity (100%; 89.3–100%), value 66.3–100%), (98.4%; 91.6–100%), (6.25%), diagnostic (98.7%) superior compared either techniques. Combination has better reduced them alone.