Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer has a greater node positivity rate than axillary node sample: results from a retrospective analysis

E. J. Macaskill, S. Dewar, C. A. Purdie, K. Brauer, L. Baker, D. C. Brown

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: Sentinel node biopsy as a surgical method of axillary staging for early breast cancer has been widely accepted as an alternative to traditional four-node axillary node sampling, and is the recommended technique by the Association of Breast Surgery in the United Kingdom. In selected units axillary sampling has been compared with either radioisotope sentinel node or blue dye only techniques with comparable node positivity rates. There are no studies directly comparing combined method sentinel node biopsy (SNB) with conventional axillary (four) node sampling (ANS). METHODS: Data for all patients undergoing axillary staging by axillary node sample or sentinel node biopsy were collected, including those proceeding to axillary clearance as a second procedure, but excluding those undergoing axillary clearance as a first procedure. RESULTS: From January 2005 to January 2011, 641 axillary staging procedures were performed (SNB n=231 (36.0%), ANS n=410 (64.0%)). Baseline tumour characteristics were similar for the two groups except for a higher frequency of breast conservation in the SNB group (95.6 vs. 75.6%; p
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)662-669
    Number of pages8
    JournalEJSO - European Journal of Surgical Oncology
    Volume38
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Sentinel node biopsy in breast cancer has a greater node positivity rate than axillary node sample: results from a retrospective analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this