Background Breast cancer is a common cancer in the female population. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) in breast cancer patients can be evaluated by different methods including intraoperative frozen section analysis (FSA), touch imprint cytology (TIC), and scraping cytology (SC). In this study, in addition to investigating TIC and FSA, we focused on SC to evaluate the diagnostic value of this almost new method. Materials and methods In this retrospective study, the quadrantectomy and sentinel lymph node resection of 150 specimens with mammography and core needle biopsy‐confirmed breast cancer were examined. Of the 150 participants, 77 and 73 had negative and positive results for the permanent pathology of SLN metastasis, respectively. Intra‐operative FSA, TIC, and SC for SLN were performed for the patients and all were confirmed by permanent pathology. Results All the specimens were taken from females aged between 25 and 82 years. The sensitivity and specificity of TIC, FS, and SC were 73% and 50%, 92.6% and 50%, and 92.1% and 50%, respectively. Among the three techniques, TIC had the lowest positive and negative predictive values. However, FS had the highest positive predictive value whereas SC had the highest negative predictive value. Conclusion In addition to FS and TIC as rapid, cost‐effective, and reliable diagnostic methods in SLN metastasis, SC is an acceptable and highly sensitive method. A combination of these methods may provide a more favorable diagnostic value for SLN assessment in breast cancer patients.

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