Positive sentinel lymph node biopsy predicts the number of metastatic axillary nodes of breast cancer.
It remains to be clarified whether a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) can predict the number of metastatic axillary nodes. This study examined a consecutive series of women with unilateral invasive breast cancer who underwent axillary lymph node dissection after an intra-operative positive SLNB. The numbers of positive and negative sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were analyzed for a likelihood of pN1a, pN2a, and pN3a diseases as per the UICC TNM classification. Of the 368 study patients, 165 (45%) had one positive SLN and one or more negative SLNs. This result represented the most common combination of positive and negative SLNs. It was also the most predictive indicator (93%) of pN1a disease and the least predictive indicator (7% or 0%) of pN2a or pN3a disease, respectively. The numbers of positive and negative SLNs can predict the number of metastatic axillary nodes in breast cancer patients.
Takei
Hiroyuki
H
Division of Breast Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, 818 Komuro Ina, Kita-Adachi, Saitama 362-0806, Japan. h-takei@cancer-c.pref.saitama.jp
Kurosumi
Masafumi
M
Yoshida
Takashi
T
Ninomiya
Jun
J
Ishikawa
Yuko
Y
Hayashi
Yuji
Y
Tozuka
Katsunori
K
Asakawa
Hideki
H
Oba
Hanako
H
Inoue
Kenichi
K
Tabei
Toshio
T
D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods