Axillary recurrence in sentinel lymph node-negative breast cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was developed to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the treatment of breast cancer. SLNB is predictive of axillary node status. Major concern is the occurrence of a false-negative SLN. Purpose of this study is to determine the rate of axillary recurrence in our series of unselected patients.


METHODS
All patients with a negative SLNB from November 1999 to December 2006 have been treated and followed at our unit. Information on patients' characteristics, treatment and follow-up has been collected.


RESULTS
Eight-hundred and four patients with negative SLNB did not receive ALND. After a median follow-up of 38.8 months, 21 patients had distant metastases, four had axillary relapse, nine had an in-breast recurrence and two had both. All patients with axillary recurrence received axillary dissection and systemic adjuvant therapy. They are all presently alive and free from disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Data from this series, the largest from a general hospital, showed that isolated axillary node recurrence after negative SLNB is rare (<1%) and comparable with those reported from referral cancer institutions. We confirm that SLNB for the treatment of early breast cancer patients of a community-based hospital is safe and reliable.
Department of Medical Oncology, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. ppoletti@ospedaliriuniti.bergamo.it
P
P
Poletti
P
P
Fenaroli
A
A
Milesi
A
A
Paludetti
S
S
Mangiarotti
G
G
Virotta
E
E
Candiago
A
A
Bettini
E R
ER
Caremoli
R
R
Labianca
C
C
Tondini
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy