Axillary Recurrences after Sentinel Node Surgery—Results over Ten Years in a University Hospital

Helle Eilertsen, Ellen Schlichting, Marianne Efskind Harr, Daehoon Park, Torill Sauer, Siri Larønningen, Rolf Kaaresen

Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.
Department of Breast- and Endocrine Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Department of Pathology, Vestre Viken Hospital, Drammen, Norway.
Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

DOI: 10.4236/jct.2012.325108                

Abstract

Background: Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) was introduced at Ullevaal University Hospital in 2000. This article presents results from the first ten years use of the method. Material and Methods: A prospective registration of 2762 patients was made from 2000 through 2009. Results: The median follow-up time was 51 months. The overall detection rate was 93%. 36% of the patients with positive SNs had non-sentinel metastases. These were significantly associated with a macrometastatic SN and a primary tumour>20 mm. 18% of patients with sentinel metastasis≤2 mm had non-sentinel metastases. 14 patients with negative SN (0.7%) developed axillary recurrence. 32% with a preoperative diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) were upstaged to infiltrating carcinoma on final histology. None of the patients with pure DCIS had positive SNs. Conclusion: Few late events (0.7%) in SN negative axillas demonstrate the safety of the technique.

Keywords

Breast Cancer; Ductal Carcinoma in Situ; Sentinel Node; Non-Sentinel Metastasis; Axillary Recurrence

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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