Axillary Lymph Node Status in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients with Sentinel Node Micrometastases (0.2-2 mm)

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Abstract

Background: Omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is increasingly becoming the new standard of care for patients with sentinel lymph node micrometastases (SNMMs). However, a formidable proportion of patients is afflicted with non-sentinel node (NSN) macrometastatic tumor burden. Methods: Over 1 decade 5,000 patients underwent sentinel node biopsies (SNB) at 2 certified breast cancer centers in Austria. All available cases of SNMM during this time period were reviewed. Clinical, tumor and lymph node parameters were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis to retrieve predictors for further NSN involvement. Results: We identified 216 patients with SNMMs, of whom 181 subsequently underwent ALND. Of the latter patients, 16% (n = 29/181) presented with NSN axillary metastases. ALND revealed NSN macrometastases in 10.5% (n = 19/181) of all the investigated patients, and 66% of the NSN-positive patients (n = 19/29). In 28% (n = 8/29) of the NSN-positive patients, more than 1 macrometastasis was detected. The number of removed sentinel nodes was found to be a significant predictor (p = 0.007) for NSN involvement. Conclusion: In this retrospective investigation of breast cancer patients with SNMMs, a substantial proportion exhibited involvement of NSNs. Macrometastases accounted for the largest fraction of NSN tumor burden. Refraining from ALND in the face of SNMMs may entail substantial micro- and macrometastatic tumor burden in the remaining axillary lymph node basin.

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A randomized comparison of sentinel-node biopsy with routine axillary dissection in breast cancer.

Umberto Veronesi, Giovanni Paganelli, Giuseppe Viale … (2003)

Although numerous studies have shown that the status of the sentinel node is an accurate predictor of the status of the axillary nodes in breast cancer, the efficacy and safety of sentinel-node biopsy require validation. From March 1998 to December 1999, we randomly assigned 516 patients with primary breast cancer in whom the tumor was less than or equal to 2 cm in diameter either to sentinel-node biopsy and total axillary dissection (the axillary-dissection group) or to sentinel-node biopsy followed by axillary dissection only if the sentinel node contained metastases (the sentinel-node group). The number of sentinel nodes found was the same in the two groups. A sentinel node was positive in 83 of the 257 patients in the axillary-dissection group (32.3 percent), and in 92 of the 259 patients in the sentinel-node group (35.5 percent). In the axillary-dissection group, the overall accuracy of the sentinel-node status was 96.9 percent, the sensitivity 91.2 percent, and the specificity 100 percent. There was less pain and better arm mobility in the patients who underwent sentinel-node biopsy only than in those who also underwent axillary dissection. There were 15 events associated with breast cancer in the axillary-dissection group and 10 such events in the sentinel-node group. Among the 167 patients who did not undergo axillary dissection, there were no cases of overt axillary metastasis during follow-up. Sentinel-node biopsy is a safe and accurate method of screening the axillary nodes for metastasis in women with a small breast cancer. Copyright 2003 Massachusetts Medical Society

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Randomized multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy versus standard axillary treatment in operable breast cancer: the ALMANAC Trial.

Robert Mansel, Lesley Fallowfield, Mark Kissin … (2006)

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in women with operable breast cancer is routinely used in some countries for staging the axilla despite limited data from randomized trials on morbidity and mortality outcomes. We conducted a multicenter randomized trial to compare quality-of-life outcomes between patients with clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer who received sentinel lymph node biopsy and patients who received standard axillary treatment. The primary outcome measures were arm and shoulder morbidity and quality of life. From November 1999 to October 2003, 1031 patients were randomly assigned to undergo sentinel lymph node biopsy (n = 515) or standard axillary surgery (n = 516). Patients with sentinel lymph node metastases proceeded to delayed axillary clearance or received axillary radiotherapy (depending on the protocol at the treating institution). Intention-to-treat analyses of data at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery are presented. All statistical tests were two-sided. The relative risks of any lymphedema and sensory loss for the sentinel lymph node biopsy group compared with the standard axillary treatment group at 12 months were 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.23 to 0.60; absolute rates: 5% versus 13%) and 0.37 (95% CI = 0.27 to 0.50; absolute rates: 11% versus 31%), respectively. Drain usage, length of hospital stay, and time to resumption of normal day-to-day activities after surgery were statistically significantly lower in the sentinel lymph node biopsy group (all P .05). Sentinel lymph node biopsy is associated with reduced arm morbidity and better quality of life than standard axillary treatment and should be the treatment of choice for patients who have early-stage breast cancer with clinically negative nodes.

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Morbidity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN) alone versus SLN and completion axillary lymph node dissection after breast cancer surgery: a prospective Swiss multicenter study on 659 patients.

Igor Langer, Ulrich Güller, Gilles Berclaz … (2007)

To assess the morbidity after sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy compared with SLN and completion level I and II axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in a prospective multicenter study. ALND after breast cancer surgery is associated with considerable morbidity. We hypothesized: 1) that the morbidity in patients undergoing SLN biopsy only is significantly lower compared with those after SLN and completion ALND level I and II; and 2) that SLN biopsy can be performed with similar intermediate term morbidity in academic and nonacademic centers. Patients with early stage breast cancer (pT1 and pT2

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): BRC

Journal ID (pmc): BRC

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.1661-3791

Title: Breast Care

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 1661-3791

ISSN (Electronic): 1661-3805

Publication date Subscription-year: 2013

Publication date (Print): June 2013

Publication date (Electronic): 28 June 2013

Volume: 8

Issue: 3

Pages: 187-191

Affiliations

^a Breast Center, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, ^b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Innsbruck Medical University, ^c Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Innsbruck Medical University, Austria

Article

Publisher ID: 352090 Pmcid ID: PMC3728635 Other ID: Breast Care 2013;8:187-191

DOI: 10.1159/000352090

PMC ID: PMC3728635

PubMed ID: 24415968

SO-VID: e88810a4-ecc9-47ee-b5bb-205610c45e6e

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Axillary Lymph Node Status in Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients with Sentinel Node Micrometastases (0.2-2 mm)

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Abstract

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Karger: Oncology

Most cited references 22

A randomized comparison of sentinel-node biopsy with routine axillary dissection in breast cancer.

Randomized multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy versus standard axillary treatment in operable breast cancer: the ALMANAC Trial.

Morbidity of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLN) alone versus SLN and completion axillary lymph node dissection after breast cancer surgery: a prospective Swiss multicenter study on 659 patients.

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