Implications from SEER data on breast cancer management.
From the SEER files of the NCI, 8,587 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 1975 were analyzed. Of these cases, 5.3% were noninvasive. Of the invasive cancers under 0.5 cm in diameter, 17.2% had positive axillary lymph nodes. Where the physician recorded no palpable axillary lymph nodes, 34.5% were found to be positive.
D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D014481:United States