title: The effect of internal mammary lymph node biopsy on the therapeutic decision and survival of patients with breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of internal mammary lymph node biopsy (IMLNB) is still being discussed in breast cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IMLNB on adjuvant therapy and survival of patients with breast cancer.
  The data of 72 patients with clinically negative axilla and IMLNB were evaluated. IMLNB was performed either through a small separate intercostal incision or from the same incision for tumor resection or mastectomy by using both blue dye and radioisotope. Pathological analysis was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten of the patients (14%) were IMLNB-positive. The axillary sentinel lymph node and IMLN were negative in most of the patients (52.8%). In one patient (1.4%), the axilla was negative but the IMLNB was positive. IMLNB changed the pathologic stage in eight patients (11%). Adjuvant internal mammary radiotherapy was added to the treatment protocol for 10 patients due to IMLNB positivity and adjuvant chemotherapy was added in for only one patient with negative axilla. The factors found to be related with IMLN positivity were SLN positivity (p = 0.033), mastectomy (p = 0.022), and the number of resected IMLN ≥2 (p = 0.040). The median follow-up time was 115.5 months (range, 30-162 months). The ten-year overall survival (OS) rate was 86%. Systemic metastasis (p = 0.007), SLNB positivity (p < 0.001), and IMLNB positivity (p = 0.005) were statistically related to overall survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IMLNB positivity in patients with breast cancer changed the pathologic stage and adjuvant treatment modalities of patients and also adversely affected the overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Surgery, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey. Electronic address: vozmen@istanbul.edu.tr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ozmen
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Surgery, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ozcinar
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Surgery, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozdogan
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Oncology, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eralp
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Pathology, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Radiation Oncology, Capa, Istanbul, 34398, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dincer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Early stage breast cancer; Internal mammary lymph node biopsy; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Stage migration; Survival