The significance of one positive axillary node

G.P. Kuijt*, L.V. van de Poll-Franse, R.M.H. Roumen, M.W.P.M. Van Beek, A.C. Voogd

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify a subgroup of patients with breast cancer that can safely avoid axillary dissection. Methods: Using data collected by the Eindhoven Cancer Registry, we compared the clinico-pathological features of 489 patients with only one positive lymph node to those of 817 patients with more than one positive lymph node in the axilla. All patients underwent complete axillary dissection, not preceded by a sentinel node biopsy. Results: Tumour size greater than I cm, harvesting more than 15 axillar lymph nodes at histopathological examination, metastasis size larger than 2 mm, extranodal extension, and nodal involvement of the axillary apex are independently associated with the occurrence of more than one metastatic axillary lymph node. Conclusion: No subgroup could be identified in which axillary dissection can always be omitted. However, tumour size <I cm, finding a micrometastasis rather than a macrometastasis, and especially not finding extranodal extension were independently associated with finding only one positive axillary lymph node.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-142
JournalEuropean Journal of Surgical Oncology
Volume32
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2006

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