Refining Local-Regional Therapy for Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC)
This Feasibility study is trying to determine: * If Lymphoscintigraphy (imaging of the lymphatic drainage patterns) is effective in demonstrating the drainage to the sentinel lymph nodes in patients with inflammatory breast cancer. * The likelihood of identifying the sentinel lymph nodes in the operating room, using both blue dye and the radioactive substance used for lymphoscintigraphy. * The incidence of lymphedema (arm swelling which occurs after lymph node surgery) in women with inflammatory breast cancer * Outcomes for women with inflammatory breast cancer, whether or not the sentinel lymph nodes can be identified.
• Stage III IBC (cT4d cN0-2). Inflammatory breast cancer is defined as the following constellation of symptoms (all of the following must be met):
‣ Rapid onset symptoms (6 months or less from time of diagnosis)
⁃ Breast erythema, edema and/or peau d'orange and/or warm breast with or without an underlying palpable mass
⁃ Erythema occupying at least one-third of the breast
⁃ Pathologic confirmation (biopsy-proven) invasive breast carcinoma
• Women age ≥18 years
• ECOG performance status ≤2
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign informed consent document and comply with study procedures, including baseline research biopsy. If the research biopsy is not felt to be reasonably safe or feasible, a waiver must be obtained from the Principal Investigator. A formal exception would not be required in this case.