Sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with microinvasive breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in patients with microinvasive breast cancer.


METHODS
We searched MEDLINE and ISI Web of Science to identify studies including patients with microinvasive breast cancer who underwent SLNB and reported the rate of sentinel-node positivity. We performed proportion meta-analysis using either fixed or random-effects model based on the between-study heterogeneity.


RESULTS
A total of 24 studies including 968 patients met the eligibility criteria. The summary estimate for the sentinel-node (SN) positivity rate was 3.2% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 2.1%-4.6%), 4.0% (95% CI 2.7%-5.5%), and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.6%-4.6%) for macrometastasis, micrometastasis and isolated tumor cells (ITC) respectively. Significant between-study heterogeneity was observed only in the meta-analysis of ITC positivity rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The amount of positive sentinel node in patients with proven microinvasive breast cancer is relatively low. As a result, the indications for SLNB in these patients should be probably individualized.
Department of Oncology, Karolinska Solna, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
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H
Gojon
Department of Internal Medicine, Mälarsjukhuset, 63188 Eskilstuna, Sweden.
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D
Fawunmi
Department of Oncology, Mälarsjukhuset, 63188 Eskilstuna, Sweden; University of Uppsala, 751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: valachis@hotmail.com.
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A
Valachis
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D061206:Neoplasm Micrometastasis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000592:standards
Breast cancer; Meta-analysis; Microinvasive; Sentinel node biopsy