TY - JOUR
T1 - Accurate axillary lymph node dissection is feasible after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
AU - Straver, Marieke E.
AU - Rutgers, Emiel J.T.
AU - Oldenburg, Hester S.A.
AU - Wesseling, Jelle
AU - Linn, Sabine C.
AU - Russell, Nicola S.
AU - Vrancken Peeters, Marie Jeanne T.F.D.
PY - 2009/7
Y1 - 2009/7
N2 - Background: Recently, lower axillary lymph node retrieval after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was reported. We did not have this experience, and retrospectively analyzed our axillary lymph node dissections (ALNDs). Methods: One hundred ninety-one patients who had ALND after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared with 192 patients with primary ALND after a positive sentinel node biopsy. Results: There were no differences in the mean number of nodes retrieved between the neoadjuvant group and the primary surgery group: 16.3 (range 4-38) and 15.8 (range 6-33), respectively (P = .4); or in the retrieval of fewer than 10 lymph nodes: 13/191 (7%) and 11/192 (6%) (P = .7). The number of cases with retrieval of more than 20 lymph nodes was higher in the neoadjuvant group: 42/191 (22%) versus 26/192 (13%) (P = .03). In the neoadjuvant group, 150/191 (79%) patients had residual lymph node metastasis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our results show the feasibility and need to remove enough lymph nodes to provide precise prognostic information and adequate local control.
AB - Background: Recently, lower axillary lymph node retrieval after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was reported. We did not have this experience, and retrospectively analyzed our axillary lymph node dissections (ALNDs). Methods: One hundred ninety-one patients who had ALND after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were compared with 192 patients with primary ALND after a positive sentinel node biopsy. Results: There were no differences in the mean number of nodes retrieved between the neoadjuvant group and the primary surgery group: 16.3 (range 4-38) and 15.8 (range 6-33), respectively (P = .4); or in the retrieval of fewer than 10 lymph nodes: 13/191 (7%) and 11/192 (6%) (P = .7). The number of cases with retrieval of more than 20 lymph nodes was higher in the neoadjuvant group: 42/191 (22%) versus 26/192 (13%) (P = .03). In the neoadjuvant group, 150/191 (79%) patients had residual lymph node metastasis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our results show the feasibility and need to remove enough lymph nodes to provide precise prognostic information and adequate local control.
KW - Axillary lymph nodes
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67649605067&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2008.05.006
DO - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2008.05.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 19095215
AN - SCOPUS:67649605067
SN - 0002-9610
VL - 198
SP - 46
EP - 50
JO - American Journal of Surgery
JF - American Journal of Surgery
IS - 1
ER -