Reliability of axillary lymph node scintiphotography in suspected carcinoma of the breast

The ability of axillary lymph nodes to take up 99Tcm‐labelled antimony sulphide colloid in suspected carcinoma of the breast was investigated in 111 consecutive patients. Eight out of 17 patients with histologically confirmed carcinoma of the breast had a low colloid uptake on the affected side, i.e. a positive scintiphoto. Eighty‐two out of 94 patients with benign breast disease had an equal colloid uptake on the two sides or increased uptake on the symptomatic side, i.e. a negative scintiphoto. The reliability of the test is low and the test can neither be recommended for screening to select patients for further investigations nor as a routine examination.