title: Prognostic impact and therapeutic implications of sentinel lymph node micro-metastases in early-stage breast cancer patients.
abstract: The prognostic value of sentinel lymph node (SLN) micro-metastases and the question whether patients with SLN micro-metastases should undergo axillary lymph node dissection remain a matter of great debate. Based on the current literature and on our own data, we provide suggestive evidence that SLN micro-metastases in early stage breast cancer patients appear to have prognostic value and should impact the decision-making regarding adjuvant therapy, however, do not necessarily require further surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Carsten T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Viehl
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Guller
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zanetti-Dällenbach
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wight
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oertli
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zuber
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D016896:Treatment Outcome