Complications of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

  • The overall significant complication rate from sentinel lymph node dissection reported from the ACOSOG Z0010 trial:
    • Was low:
      • With 32% of patients reporting at least one surgical side effect and less than 1% of patients requiring hospitalization
    • The most common surgical side effect was:
      • Axillary paresthesia:
        • Affecting 307 (8.6%) of 3,573 patients
      • Allergic reaction:
        • Was reported in less than 1%:
          • Related to the administration of lymphazurin blue dye
        • Lymphedema in 7%
        • Brachial plexus injury in less than 1% of patients
      • Only one anaphylactic reaction to blue dye was reported
  • References
    • Hunt KK, Ballman KV, McCall LM, Boughey JC, Mittendorf EA, Cox CE, et al. Factors associated with local-regional recurrence after a negative sentinel node dissection: results of the ACOSOG Z0010 trial. Ann Surg. 2012;256(3):428-436.
    • Boughey JC, Hunt KK. The ACOSOG experience. In: Kuerer HM, ed. Kuerer’s Breast Surgical Oncology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2010:517-530.

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