title: Axillary regional recurrence after sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer.
abstract: The accuracy of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) staging in breast cancer has been demonstrated in studies comparing it with axillary dissection. There is a 5 per cent false-negative rate, but this does not always correlate with axillary recurrence. Our purpose was to determine the rate of axillary lymphatic recurrence in breast cancer patients who had a negative SLNB. We conducted a cohort study of breast cancer patients who underwent SLNB between 2001 and 2005. Only patients who had a negative SLNB were included. Patient demographics and tumor factors were reviewed. Outcomes measured were axillary and systemic recurrence and survival. Eighty-nine patients with a mean age of 54.4 +/- 9.9 years were included. Eighty-nine per cent of cases had infiltrating ductal carcinoma histology. Mean tumor size was 19 +/- 14 mm. Breast conservation surgery was done in 65 cases and mastectomy in 24. A mean of 2.3 +/- 2.4 SLN were found. After a median follow-up of 2.15 years, 1 (1%) patient developed a lymphatic recurrence in the axilla. SLNB provides accurate staging of breast cancer. Patients with negative SLNB do not require axillary dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA.
authors.forename: David K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Rosing
authors.forename: Christine E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dauphine
authors.forename: M Perla
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burla
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Hernan I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Vargas
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008408:Mastectomy; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome