The likelihood of additional nodal disease following a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: validation of a nomogram.
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.
Cripe
Mark H
MH
Grant Medical Center, East State St., Suite 670, Columbus, OH 43215, USA. MCripester@pol.net
Beran
Leann C
LC
Liang
Wen C
WC
Sickle-Santanello
Brenda J
BJ
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