Reliable lymphatic drainage to axillary sentinel lymph nodes regardless of tumor location within the breast.
BACKGROUND
This analysis was performed in order to determine whether primary tumor location in breast cancer affects the axillary sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification (ID) rate, the false negative (FN) rate, incidence of axillary nodal metastases, or the number of SLN identified.


METHODS
In this prospective multi-institutional study, SLN biopsy was performed on clinical stage T1-2, N0 breast cancer patients using blue dye alone or in combination with radioactive colloid, followed by completion axillary LN dissection.


RESULTS
Central tumor location was associated with an improved FN rate, which may be related to reliable drainage from the subareolar lymphatic plexus. Tumor location did not significantly affect the SLN ID rate or the mean number of SLN identified. Medial tumor location was associated with a decreased rate of axillary nodal metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancers drain reliably to the axillary lymph nodes regardless of tumor location within the breast.
Chao
C
C
Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, J. Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 315 E. Broadway, Louisville, KY 40202, USA. celia.chao@nortonhealthcare.org
Wong
S L
SL
Woo
C
C
Edwards
M J
MJ
Tuttle
T
T
Noyes
R D
RD
Carlson
D J
DJ
Turk
P
P
Simpson
D
D
McMasters
K M
KM
D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008196:Lymph / Q000502:physiology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000503:physiopathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance