A tattoo pigmented node and breast cancer

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2014;115(5):311-2. doi: 10.4149/bll_2014_063.

Abstract

Over the last decade, the axillary SLNB has replaced routine ALND for clinical staging in early breast cancer. Studies describe a potential pitfall in the identification of a true sentinel node during surgery due to lymph node pigmentation secondary to migration of tattoo dye. These pigmented “pseudo-sentinel” nodes, if located superficially in the axilla, may mimic the blue sentinel node on visual inspection, therefore missing the true sentinel node and potentially understaging the patient. Here, we present a case report of a breast cancer patient with a tattoo and discuss the importance of tattoo pigment in the LN (Fig. 1, Ref. 8).

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biopsy
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mammography
  • Mastectomy
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Tattooing*