Sentinel node positive breast cancer patients who do not undergo axillary dissection: are they different?
Abstract
Little data address outcome in patients with sentinel lymph node (SN) metastases without completion axillary lymph node dissection (CALND). This study was designed to assess locoregional recurrence in patients with positive SNs who did not undergo CALND. An IRB-approved, retrospective chart review was conducted on breast cancer patients with a positive SN. Follow-up information on outcomes was obtained via mailed questionnaires and chart review. Comparative analyses were performed between patients who did and did not undergo CALND after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. From November 1998 to June 2004, 625 breast cancer patients had a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. One-hundred and eighteen patients with < or = 0.2 mm nodal metastases (N0i+) were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 507 patients, 421 underwent CALND and 86 did not. In comparison to patients who had CALND, patients who did not undergo CALND had smaller primary tumors (2 vs 2.6 cm, P = .0007) and were more likely to have a single positive sentinel node (92% vs 77%, P = .002). The metastasis size of the sentinel node was smaller compared to patients who underwent axillary dissection (1.7 vs 6.4 mm, P < .0001). Mean predicted probability of nonsentin...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Breast Invasive Carcinoma
Invasive breast cancers indicate a spread into breast tissues and lymph nodes. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to breast invasive carcinomas.
Carcinoma, Lobular
Lobular carcinoma is an invasive type of breast cancer in which lobules, areas of the breast that produce milk, undergo malignant transformation. Here is the latest research.
Carcinoma, Ductal
Ductal carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm involving the ductal systems of any of a number of organs, such as the mammary glands, pancreas, prostate or lacrimal gland. Discover the latest research on ductal carcinoma here.
Breast Invasive Carcinoma (Keystone)
Invasive breast cancers indicate a spread into breast tissues and lymph nodes. Here are the latest discoveries pertaining to breast invasive carcinomas.