Abstract P5-14-01: The Influence on Upper Limb Function after Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy or Axillary Lymph Node Dissection

Abstract

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is accepted as a method in patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes because it was assumed to be associated with improvement of upper limb morbidity. The purpose of this study was to investigate that SLNB reduces upper limb morbidity of patients with breast cancer compared with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Methods The study comprised 362 patients with breast cancer who underwent measuring the upper limb mobility before and after surgery (at discharge, 1 month and 3 months after surgery). 241 patients underwent SLNB, 121 patients underwent ALND. In the SLNB group, 148 patients (48.1%) underwent breast conserving surgery (BCS), 67 patients (18.5%) underwent mastectomy. In the ALND group, 68 patients (18.8%) underwent BCS, 53 patients (14.6%) underwent mastectomy. Upper limb mobility was measured by the difference of the angle of the flexion and the angle of abduction between before and after surgery. The recovery defined that the difference of the angle between before and after surgery, is within 10 degree. The recovery rate was investigated by Kaplan-Meier method, and comparisons were evaluated using the log-rank test. Results The recovery rate of patients in the SLNB group was 85% in measuring flexion, 90% in measuring abduction 3 month after surgery. The recovery rate of patients in the ALND group was 52% in measuring flexion, 58% in measuring abduction. The recovery rate of upper limb function increase by SLNB than by ALND (P<0.001).’ Conclusions SLNB reduces upper limb morbidity of patients with breast cancer compared with ALND. SLNB can improve activity of daily life (ADL) by improving of the upper limb function. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2010;70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-14-01.