Is axillary dissection necessary after positive sentinel node biopsy? Yes!
Axillary dissection has been considered a staging procedure in recent years. Sentinel node biopsy can accurately stage a patient as node-positive or node-negative, raising questions about the need for completion dissection when the sentinel node is positive. This article summarizes data indicating that approximately 50% of patients with sentinel node metastasis have additional positive nodes. For these women, completion axillary dissection provides prognostic information, maintains local control, and may have a survival benefit. Until definitive data from the American College of Surgeons Z11 study is available, completion dissection should remain standard practice.
Morrow
M
M
Lynn Sage Breast Center, Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA. mmorrow@nmh.org
D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy