Supraclavicular nodal relapse of breast cancer: prevalence, palliation, and prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency, palliative effects of radiotherapy (RT) and survival of patients developing supraclavicular nodal relapse (SNR) after definitive surgery for non-disseminated breast cancer (BCa).


METHODS
A retrospective study of individuals treated by breast conserving surgery or modified radical mastectomy for Stage I to III BCa at a single institution during a 17-year period (1980-96) was undertaken.


RESULTS
Of the 536 patients studied, 22 (4%) developed SNR. Among the seven symptomatic women, the complete subjective response rate after RT was 71%. Of the 18 evaluable patients with manifest SNRs, tumor regression was complete in 12 (66.6%), partial in one (5.6%), and absent in five (27.8%). The overall median survival was 11.5 months; five patients (23%) survived for at least two years.


CONCLUSIONS
Supraclavicular nodal relapse in breast cancer patients occurs infrequently. The application of radiotherapy for palliation of SNR was fully justified by the perceived results even though long-term survival was not often observed.
Ampil
F L
FL
Department of Radiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130, USA.
Caldito
G
G
Li
B D L
BD
Burton
G V
GV
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002968:Clavicle; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate