title: The clinical implication of the number of lymph nodes harvested during sentinel lymph node biopsy and its effects on survival outcome in patients with node-negative breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The optimal number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) that need to be harvested to achieve favorable survival outcome during a SLN biopsy (SLNB) has not yet been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six hundred and thirteen patients with clinically node-negative breast cancer who underwent SLNB were reviewed. Survival outcomes according to the number of total harvested lymph nodes (THLNs), defined as the sum of enumerated SLNs and non-SLNs were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with only 1 THLN showed lower recurrence-free survival (RFS) as compared to those with ≥2 THLNs (p = 0.049). In multivariate analysis, only 1 THLN was associated with poor RFS (HR = 2.711; p = 0.029).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Removing at least 2 lymph nodes during SLNB may be acceptable. Harvesting only 1 lymph node should be undertaken cautiously because of false negative results and increasing the subsequent recurrence rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: imgenius@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Hyung Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Ye
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sanghwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sanggeun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate
keywords: Breast; Neoplasms; Optimal number; Prognosis; Sentinel lymph node biopsy; Survival