title: Quantifying the number of lymph nodes identified in one-stage versus two-stage axillary dissection in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish whether a different number of lymph nodes is identified in a delayed versus an immediate axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the Danish National Patient Register and the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group Database we identified 864 breast cancer patients with sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) and delayed ALND and 7393 breast cancer patients with SLND and immediate ALND operated between 2002 and 2010. We compared the number of lymph nodes identified in the two groups by a student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean number of lymph nodes identified in patients with immediate and delayed ALND was 16.55 and 15.59, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of lymph nodes identified in breast cancer patients is slightly reduced if delayed ALND is performed. However, the difference is small and considered to be without clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Breast Surgery, 4124, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Olaf E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Damgaard
authors.forename: Maj-Britt
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kroman
authors.forename: Tove F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Tvedskov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy