Patterns of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer

Variation in axillary node dissection influences the degree of nodal involvement in breast cancer patients

“…Therefore, most patients are divided into categories of 1-3, 4-9, or 10 or more positive nodes, to help determine prognosis. There is currently a trend to use these different nodal groups to tailor an individual's adjuvant chemotherapy by increasing the intensity of the regimen in patients with a greater number of positive nodes [10]. To this point, dose-intensive chemotherapy with bone marrow transplant was first described in the adjuvant setting among patients with greater than 10 positive nodes [3].…”

“…The axillary contents were processed using standard techniques (no fat clearing); routine histopathological (hematoxylin and eosin staining) analysis was performed on 1 section of each lymph node. Patients were grouped according to the number of positive lymph nodes: 0 positive nodes, 1-3 positive nodes, 4-9 positive nodes, or 10 or more positive nodes; these categories have been shown to have prognostic significance [10]. Statistical analysis of proportions was performed using the 2 test, while comparison of groups for continuous variables used analysis of variance.…”

Sentinel lymph node detection through radioguided surgery in patients with breast cancer

“…Birdwell et al, (2001) suggested that lower rates of SLN identification related to age were due to decreased breast tissue turgor in older women, resulting in lower hydrostatic pressure in the lymphatic channels and lower impulsion power of the radiocolloid, besides the decreased phagocytic function of the lymph node itself, which in older women shows reduction of the sinusoidal spaces due to liposubstitution. Another factor that can lead to failure in lymphoscintigraphic and surgical identification is metastatic involvement of the SLN itself, where a mechanic obstruction of the lymphatic way or of the SLN is caused by neoplasic cells (Van Lancker et al, 1995;Brenot-Rossi et al, 2003). Legend: cm = centimeter; SLN = sentinel lymph node; AL = axillary lymphadenectomy; SLNB = sentinel lymph node biopsy.…”

Is the UICC pathological node status system useful? comparison with the Japanese Breast Cancer Society pathological node status system

“…There is no doubt that the number of positive nodes is a``classic'' prognostic factor [3] and is the strongest one in breast cancer even now [4]. Moreover, the level of the positive node(s) is also important [5,6].…”