Is Axillary Dissection Necessary in Women with Early Breast Cancer and a Positive Sentinel Lymph Node?

Not in those who underwent lumpectomy, adjuvant systemic treatment, and whole-breast radiotherapy

During the past decade, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has eliminated the need for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in women whose sentinel node (SN) is tumor free. For patients with tumor-involved SNs, completion ALND has been considered the standard for achieving local and regional control. Now, researchers from the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group have assessed local and regional control, as well as survival, among patients with SN metastases that were detected with standard histologic processing.

A total of 891 women with stage T1 or T2 invasive breast cancer (<5 cm) and one to three positive SNs were randomized to undergo SLNB alone (without specific axillary treatment) or SLNB plus ALND. All patients received whole-b…

Reviewing Author

Henry Mark Kuerer, MD, PhD, FACS

Disclosures

Speaker's BureauPhysicians’ Education Resource, LLC

RoyaltiesMcGraw-Hill Professional; UpToDate, Inc.

Editorial BoardsAnnals of Surgical Oncology

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Breast Surgeons (Chair, Publications Committee)