Success of sentinel lymph node mapping after breast cancer ablation with focused microwave phased array thermotherapy

Background Breast cancer tumor ablation as part of a multimodality approach in the treatment of breast cancer is the subject of recent interest. This study was conducted to determine if the ability to perform sentinel node biopsy was impaired after thermal-induced ablation of breast cancer. Methods We studied patients who had sentinel node biopsy after preoperative focused microwave phased array for breast cancer ablation. Results Twenty-one patients with T1-T2 breast cancer and clinically negative axilla underwent wide local excision and sentinel node biopsy guided by blue dye and sulfur colloid. Surgery was done an average of 17 days after microwave ablation. Fifteen of 22 patients (68%) had histologic evidence of tumor necrosis. Sentinel lymph node mapping was successful in 19 of 21 patients (91%). Axillary metastases were detected in 42% of cases. Conclusions This study documents successful sentinel lymph node mapping for patients treated with antecedent local tumor ablation using focused microwave phased array ablation.