title: The likelihood of additional nodal disease following a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: validation of a nomogram.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy examination is the current modality for evaluating the axilla in breast cancer patients. A nomogram has been developed to predict the likelihood of non-SLN metastases after a positive SLN biopsy examination. The purpose of this study was to validate the nomogram in a community breast center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective database was used to identify breast cancer patients with a positive SLN biopsy examination who underwent a completion axillary lymph node dissection. The nomogram was used to calculate the probability of having non-SLN involvement, and was compared with the observed numbers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The observed incidence of non-SLN involvement showed excellent correlation with the nomogram predicted probability (chi-square test statistic = 5.87; P = .83).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Predicting the risk of additional nodal metastases allows the surgeon and patient to make an individualized decision regarding the need for completion axillary lymph node dissection.
authors.affiliation: Grant Medical Center, East State St., Suite 670, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. MCripester@pol.net
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Cripe
authors.forename: Leann C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Beran
authors.forename: Wen C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Brenda J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sickle-Santanello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008875:Middle Aged; D049451:Nomograms; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy