Cost comparison of axillary sentinel lymph node detection and axillary lymphadenectomy in early breast cancer. A national study based on a prospective multi-institutional series of 985 patients 'on behalf of the Group of Surgeons from the French Unicancer Federation'.

BACKGROUND: Our objective was to assess the global cost of the sentinel lymph node detection [axillary sentinel lymph node detection (ASLND)] compared with standard axillary lymphadenectomy [axillary lymph node dissection (ALND)] for early breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multi-institutional, observational, cost comparative analysis. Cost calculations were realized with the micro-costing method from the diagnosis until 1 month after the last surgery. RESULTS: Eight hundred and thirty nine patients were included in the ASLND group and 146 in the ALND group. The cost generated for a patient with an ASLND, with one preoperative scintigraphy, a combined method for sentinel node detection, an intraoperative pathological analysis without lymphadenectomy, was lower than the cost generated for a patient with lymphadenectomy [€ 2947 (σ = 580) versus € 3331 (σ = 902); P = 0.0001]. CONCLUSION: ASLND, involving expensive techniques, was finally less expensive than ALND. The length of hospital stay was the cost driver of these procedures. The current observational study points the heterogeneous practices for this validated and largely diffused technique. Several technical choices have an impact on the cost of ASLND, as intraoperative analysis allowing to reduce rehospitalization rate for secondary lymphadenectomy or preoperative scintigraphy, suggesting possible savings on hospital resources.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in the submandibular space.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are a rare but aggressive form of soft tissue sarcoma with few reported cases in the anatomic location seen with the case presented here. This case involves a 23-year-old man presenting with a soft tissue mass under the mandible found to be a MPNST, which was investigated and fully excised. Adjuvant radiotherapy was used postoperatively. Although uncommon, these tumours have a poor prognosis and suitable management therefore needs to be put in place as soon as possible. Complete excision with negative margins and adjuvant radiotherapy are the current methods used for treatment. This case is unusual and highlights the management of an aggressive tumour in a difficult anatomical area, prompting the consideration of MPNST as a differential diagnosis for a soft tissue mass.

[Functional anatomy of the lymphatic drainage of the breast: contribution of sentinel lymph node biopsy]. / Anatomie fonctionnelle du drainage lymphatique du sein : apport de la technique du lymphonoeud sentinelle.

OBJECTIVE: To make a development on the recent data of the literature concerning the functional anatomy of the lymphatic drainage of the breast, observed during interventions of sentinel lymph node biopsy; to compare the descriptive anatomy taking into consideration these new results. METHODS: The population of our descriptive anatomical study is made-up of five patients. All the patients underwent a radical mastectomy during which, an injection of 2 ml of patented blue, realized at the periareolar area allowed to observe the glandular lymphatic vessels. Bibliographic researches were undertaken on Internet site of the National Library of Medicine and on Internet site of the library of anatomy (Faculté de médecine des Saints-Pères Paris). RESULTS: Lymphatic anatomy of the breast was described since more than one century starting from works undertaken on anatomical subjects. Recent works, completed during sentinel lymph node biopsy, enriched these descriptive data of new functional anatomical data on the lymphatic drainage of the breast. Thus, the superficial ways of lymphatic drainage already described by Sappey, drain the surface glandular parenchyma until in the axillary lymph node. A deep plexux described more recently by Hidden drain the deep glandular parenchyma until in the internal mammary lymph nodes and the axillary lymph nodes. The results of our in vivo study corroborated the descriptive and functional data ever known. CONCLUSION: Thanks to the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique, the descriptive anatomy described since 1885, grows rich by new functional data which make it possible on the one hand, to understand at best the descriptive anatomy, and on the other hand, to apprehend the lymphonodal metastatic risk in breast cancer. These recent data are of an interest real, as well anatomical as therapeutic, and constitute a interesting research orientation.