Sentinel lymph nodes with isolated tumour cells and micrometastases in breast cancer: clinical relevance and prognostic significance

Abstract

We conclude that ITCs in the sentinel lymph nodes did not adversely impact disease free and overall survivals. Although only 2 recurrences with subsequent death occurred in the micrometastasis group, it may suggest a propensity for presence of micrometastases to augur a worse outcome, and justifies continued segregation of ITCs from micrometastasis.

Quantitation of the Regional Lymph Node Metastatic Burden and Prognosis in Malignant Mammary Tumors of Dogs

“…In this study, 33.33% of the animals diagnosed with ITC had more aggressive tumors, such as carcinosarcoma and solid carcinoma. Such behavior may be similar to that observed in women with breast cancer, in whom the clinical relevance of identifying cell clusters <0.2 mm has shown conflicting results and may be directly related to the histologic type studied 13, 16, 18, 21…”

“…Neoplastic cells in the lymphoid parenchyma or distributed in the lymphatic sinuses (i.e., subcapsular, medullary, or both) in H&E‐stained sections were considered metastases as previously described 21. When >1 lymph node in the same patient was affected by several metastatic foci, the largest metastatic focus was measured (maximum diameter) for the classification of metastasis as macrometastases, micrometastases, or ITC.…”

“…Higher rates of recurrence and death are observed in women with micrometastases compared with women with negative lymph nodes; these assessments, coupled with quantification of metastatic burden, are a clinically relevant predictor of non‐SLN metastasis 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. This type of assessment, however, has been the subject of great debate, because there are no differences in prognosis between women with micrometastases and those with ITC 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21…”

False negative rate for intraoperative sentinel lymph node frozen section in patients with breast cancer: a retrospective analysis of patients in a single Asian institution

“…This was further supported by results from the ACOSOG Z0011 trial 30. While the need to detect micrometastatic disease diminishes in relevance in the light of recent publications, their true significance remains a matter for debate 31. The use of IFS to detect macrometastatic disease in the axilla continues to remain important.…”

Factores pronósticos en el cáncer de mama en estadio inicial

“…La supervivencia se acerca al 90% si este es el ú nico ganglio invadido por el tumor, e incluso supera el 95% en el caso, relativamente frecuente, de que la afectació n sea en forma de micrometá stasis (tamañ o comprendido entre 0,2 y 2 mm). Cuando se detectan micrometá stasis en el ganglio centinela no suele completarse la linfadenectomía, puesto que la probabilidad de que haya má s ganglios afectados es baja y el pronó stico es mejor comparado con la afectació n macroscó pica [11][12][13] .…”