Axillary dissection is not required for all patients with breast cancer and positive sentinel nodes.
OBJECTIVE
Sentinel node (SN) biopsy for breast cancer enhances staging sensitivity, often demonstrating only micrometastases (<2 mm) or isolated, keratin-positive cells. When SN metastasis is present, the value of additional axillary dissection is unclear and not all patients benefit from axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).


METHODS
Prospective cohort study, median 32-month follow-up.


METHODS
Multidisciplinary breast cancer centers.


METHODS
Forty-six women having SN metastases diagnosed between May 1, 1996, and September 1, 2001, who refused ALND or were recommended to omit ALND owing to serious comorbid conditions.


METHODS
Isosulfan blue dye-directed SN biopsy. Axillary lymph node dissection was not performed. Standard breast irradiation was given. Adjuvant systemic therapy was provided as determined by an oncologist. Interval clinical evaluation was performed.


METHODS
Axillary and systemic failure rates.


RESULTS
Mean patient age was 61.6 years (age range, 36-92 years). Mean tumor size was 1.65 cm (range, 0.4-5.5 cm). Thirty-five (76%) of 46 tumors were ductal carcinomas and 39 (87%) of 45 were estrogen receptor-positive. A mean of 2.6 SNs were identified (median, 2; range, 1-7). Thirty-nine patients (85%) had a single positive SN; the remaining 7 patients (15%) had 2 positive SNs. Seven patients (15%) had macrometastases (>2 mm); 16 (35%) had micrometastases (<2 mm); and 23 (50%) had cellular metastases. Only 16 positive SNs (35%) were seen on hematoxylin-eosin staining, while 30 SNs (65%) had positive immunohistochemical staining. There have been no axillary recurrences. One patient (2%) developed distant metastases during follow-up (range, 4-61 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with SN metastases who did not have ALND had a low incidence of regional failure. To confirm this observation, we suggest that patients with SN metastases are ideal candidates for trials evaluating the necessity of ALND.
Guenther
J Michael
JM
Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Hansen
Nora M
NM
DiFronzo
L Andrew
LA
Giuliano
Armando E
AE
Collins
J Craig
JC
Grube
Baiba L
BL
O'Connell
Theodore X
TX
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C025484:iso-sulfan blue