Predictors of positive axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node

Breast cancer with metastatic sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) may have clinicopathologic factors associated with the presence of positive nonsentinel axillary nodes (NSLN). The aim of the present study was to determine factors that predict involvement of NSLN in breast cancer patients with positive SLN.

A prospective database search identified 80 patients who underwent SLN biopsy for invasive breast cancer between January 1999 and August 2002. Clinicopathologic data were analyzed to determine factors that predicted additional positive axillary nodes.

A total of 23 patients had positive SLN and underwent conventional axillary lymph node dissection. Statistical analysis revealed that lymphovascular invasion (P ~ 0.00000), SLN metastasis >2 mm (P = 0.002), and the presence of extranodal involvement (P = 0.002), were positive predictors of the metastatic involvement of NSLN.

The likelihood of positive NSLN correlates with pathologic parameters such as the presence of lymphovascular invasion, size of the SLN metastasis, and extranodal involvement. These data may be helpful with the regard to the decision to undertake axillary dissection in breast cancer patients with metastatic SLN.