A multicenter cohort study to compare quality of life in breast cancer patients according to sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection.
BACKGROUND
This prospective multicenter study assessed and compared the impact of different surgical procedures on quality of life (QoL) in breast cancer patients.


METHODS
The EORTC QLQ-C30 and the EORTC QLQ-BR-23 questionnaires were used to assess global health status (GHS), arm (BRAS) and breast (BRBS) symptom scales, before surgery, just after surgery and 6 and 12 months later. The Kruskal-Wallis test with the Bonferroni correction was used to compare scores. A mixed model analysis of variance for repeated measurements was then applied to assess the longitudinal effect of surgical modalities on QoL.


RESULTS
Before surgery, GHS (P = 0.7807) and BRAS (P = 0.7688) QoL scores were similar whatever the surgical procedure: sentinel node biopsy (SLNB), axillary node dissection (ALND) or SLNB + ALND. As compared with other surgical groups, GHS 75.91 [standard deviation (SD) = 17.44, P = 0.041] and BRAS 11.39 (SD = 15.36, P < 0.0001) were better in the SLNB group 12 months after surgery. Whatever the type of surgery, GHS decreased after surgery (P < 0.0001), but increased 6 months later (P = 0.0016). BRAS symptoms increased just after surgery (P = 0.0329) and until 6 months (P < 0.0001) before decreasing (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
SLNB improved GHS and BRAS QoL in breast cancer patients. However, surgeons must be cautious, SLNB with ALND results in a poorer QoL.
Dabakuyo
T S
TS
Biostatistics and Epidemiology Unit, Medical Information Department, Centre Georges François Leclerc, Dijon, France. sdabakuyo@dijon.fnclcc.fr
Fraisse
J
J
Causeret
S
S
Gouy
S
S
Padeano
M-M
MM
Loustalot
C
C
Cuisenier
J
J
Sauzedde
J-M
JM
Smail
M
M
Combier
J-P
JP
Chevillote
P
P
Rosburger
C
C
Boulet
S
S
Arveux
P
P
Bonnetain
F
F
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy