腋窝逆向淋巴示踪预防乳腺癌患者上肢淋巴水肿的研究

目的：探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活组织检查（ SLNB）或腋窝淋巴结清扫（ ALND）过程中,进行腋窝逆向淋巴示踪（ ARM）以保留引流上肢淋巴液的腋窝淋巴结的可行性,及其对术后上肢淋巴水肿的预防作用。方法选择2012年1月至2013年6月本科71例全乳房切除术＋前哨淋巴结活组织检查术患者（ SLNB组）和134例乳腺癌改良根治术患者（ ALND组）进行临床研究。将SLNB组和ALND组分别随机分为对照组和示踪组,即：SLNB对照组36例,SLNB示踪组35例;ALND对照组64例,ALND示踪组70例。 SLNB示踪组和ALND示踪组的手术方式除与其对照组相同外,还需进行ARM以保留引流上肢淋巴液的腋窝淋巴结（ ARM淋巴结）。前哨淋巴结和ARM淋巴结定位方法如下：术前2 h,在患者乳房肿块周围及患侧上臂内侧皮下注射^99Tc^m-Dx标记的同位素,并于术前5 min在患侧上臂内侧皮下注射2 ml亚甲蓝进行ARM淋巴结显色,术中用同位素γ探测仪探测放射性核素热点进行前哨淋巴结定位,并用γ探测仪结合蓝色染料定位ARM淋巴结。术中注意观察ARM淋巴结蓝染情况及其与前哨淋巴结有无重合,若无重合则保留所有蓝染的ARM淋巴结,若有重合则同时切除前哨淋巴结和ARM淋巴结;术后统计切除的淋巴结数量、术中出血量、置管时间、引流液体量及手术时间。术后6个月随访两组患者上肢淋巴水肿的发生情况。定量资料分析采用 t检验,定性资料比较采用秩和检验或χ^2检验。结果在SLNB示踪组35例患者中,26例（74．29%,26/35）术中检测到ARM淋巴结,其中1例患者前哨淋巴结与ARM淋巴结重合,此患者在SLNB过程中也接受了ARM淋巴结切除,因此SLNB示踪组ARM淋巴结保留率为71．43%（25/35）。在ALND示踪组70例患者中,67例（95．71%,67/70）术中检测到ARM淋巴结,其中5例患者前哨淋巴结与ARM淋巴结重合,此部分患者在ALND过程中同时接受ARM淋巴结切除,因此ALND示踪组ARM淋巴结保留率为88．57%（62/70）。在SLNB对照组与SLNB示踪组之间以及ALND对照组与ALND示踪组之间,腋窝淋巴结切除数量、术中出血量、术后引流液体量及置管时间的差异均无统计学意义（ t=-1．136、-0．570、0．032、0．903,P=0．264、0．570、0．975、0．370;t=1．149、0．416、1．405、-0．547,P=0．253、0．678、0．162、0．585）,但是SLNB示踪组和ALND示踪组的手术时间均长于其对照组[（90．26±6．04） min比（86．61±5．62） min,t=-2．616,P=0．011;（112．24±7．94） min比（92．33±6．88） min,t=-15．399,P=0．000]。术后随访6个月：SLNB对照组与SLNB示踪组上肢淋巴水肿发生率分别为11．11%（4/36）和8．00%（2/25）,两者间差异无统计学意义（P=1．000）;ALND对照组与ALND示踪组上肢淋巴水肿发生率分别为31．25%（20/64）和6．45%（4/62）,两者间差异有统计学意义（χ2=12．560,P=0．000）。结论乳腺癌患者行SLNB或ALND的过程中可以行ARM。 SLNB过程中保留ARM淋巴结对降低术后上肢淋巴水肿发生率无意义,而ALND过程中保留ARM淋巴结可有效降低术后上肢淋巴水肿发生率。     

Axillary reverse mapping using near-infrared fluorescence imaging in invasive breast cancer (ARMONIC study)

BackgroundAxillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with breast cancer has potential side effects, including upper-limb lymphedema. Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) is a technique that enables discrimination of the lymphatic drainage of the upper limb in the axillary lymph node basin from that of the breast. We aimed to evaluate ARM node identification by near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging during total mastectomy with ALND and then to analyze potential predictive factors of ARM node involvement.MethodsThe study enrolled 119 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer with an indication for ALND. NIR imaging using indocyanine green dye was performed in 109 patients during standard ALND to identify ARM nodes and their corresponding lymphatic ducts.Results94.5% of patients had ARM nodes identified (95%CI = [88.4–98.0]). The ARM nodes were localized in zone D in 63.4% of cases. Metastatic axillary lymph nodes were found in 55% in the whole cohort, and 19.4% also had metastasis in ARM nodes. Two patients had metastatic ARM nodes but not in the remaining axillary lymph nodes. No serious adverse events were observed. Only the amount of mitosis was significantly associated with ARM node metastasis.ConclusionsARM by NIR fluorescence imaging could be a reliable technique to identify ARM nodes in real-time when ALND is performed. The clinical data compared with ARM node histological diagnosis showed only the amount of mitosis in the diagnostic biopsy is a potential predictive factor of ARM node involvement.Clinical trial registrationNCT02994225.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate method for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and the feasibility of SLNB in breast cancer patients who had received preoperative (neoadjuvant) chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients with advanced breast cancer stage II or III who were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification and biopsy was attempted and performed, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed in the same surgical procedure after SLNB. The histopathologic examination of the SLNs and the dissected axillary lymph nodes was performed and nodal status was compared. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included in the study. After peritumoural injection of technetium-99m labelled human albumin and subareolar subcutaneous injection of blue dye, the SLNs could be identified in 26/30 patients (identification rate 86.7%). In 4/30 patients (13.3%) SLNs could not be identified. In 25/26 patients (96.2%) SLNs accurately predicted the axillary status. Eleven patients had negative SLNs and negative nodes in ALND. Six patients had positive SLNs and positive nodes in ALND. In eight patients SLNs only were positive and nodes in ALND were negative. One patient had a false-negative SLNB, calculating a false-negative rate of 6.7% (1/15). CONCLUSIONS: SLNB is a well introduced technique for axillary staging in patients with early breast cancer. The accuracy of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy is similar to patients with primary surgery. SLNB could be an alternative to ALND in a subgroup of patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and therefore could reduce morbidity due to surgery in those patients. Due to small numbers of patients, further evaluation in this subset of patients is required.     

Current trends of sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer —A surgeon’s perspective

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard care for patients with early-stage breast cancer, and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is considered unnecessary when sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) are tumor-free. Additional non-SLN metastasis in patients with positive SLNs can be estimated using several risk factors such as primary tumor size, metastatic tumor size in SLNs, lymphatic vessel invasion, and so on. All patients with positive SLNs may be treated with further ALND based on their own risk for nonSLN metastasis. Recent randomized clinical trials have already proved less surgical morbidity and better QOL for SLNB alone compared with ALND. However, trials concerning the efficacy of ALND in positive SLNB patients in preventing local regional recurrence and improving overall survival compared with no ALND, and also, concerning the effectiveness of ALND compared with axillary radiation therapy (RT), have not yielded clear results. The prognostic significance of micrometastasis in SLNs or bone marrow also remains to be determined. So far SLNB is not acceptable for patients with positive nodes in the axilla at initial diagnosis even if their axillary metastases are down-staged to negative by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although basically SLNB does not need to be performed for patients with pure ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), it is recommended for patients with an initial diagnosis of DCIS which is large, palpable, high grade, or found in younger patients. Because these types of DCIS have higher incidences of accompanying invasive lesions. In addition if patients will undergo mastectomy, SLNB is recommended because of the inability to perform SLNB after mastectomy. SLNB may be acceptable for patients with T3 or T4b tumors, even though SLN identification is lower yet SLN involvement is higher compared with T1 or T2 tumors, and systemic adjuvant therapy is more important for patients with T3 or T4b tumors. SLNB is a bridge to further axillary treatment such as ALND or axillary RT, and which strategy, including no further treatment, is best considered individually based on recurrence risk, treatment responsiveness and use or non-use of systemic therapy.     

Can axillary reverse mapping avoid lymphedema in node positive breast cancer patients?

Background

Tracing lymphatic drainage of the ipsilateral arm of node positive breast cancer patients, termed “axillary reverse mapping” (ARM), has recently been described in several reports. We analyzed our experience with this new technique in patients scheduled for axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and evaluated its usefulness for reducing the incidence of lymphedema.

Methods

Blue dye was injected subcutaneously along the intermuscular groove of the upper inner arm; radioisotope was injected subcutaneously in the interdigital webspace of the hand. All blue and radioactive lymph vessels and lymph nodes were recorded. Only unsuspicious “ARM lymph nodes” located in the lateral part of the axillary basin were preserved. All other level I and II axillary lymph nodes were removed. Resected ARM nodes were immediately separated from all other lymph nodes.

Results

ARM was performed in 143 patients subsequently undergoing ALND. ARM lymph nodes were successfully identified in 112 cases (78%). In 55 patients at least one ARM lymph node had to be removed. In 14 of these, tumor involvement was confirmed. In 71 patients one or more ARM nodes were preserved.During a median follow-up time of 19 months no axillary recurrence was noted. 35 of 114 evaluated patients developed lymphedema. Preservation of ARM lymph nodes did not significantly decrease the incidence of lymphedema.

Conclusion

ARM is feasible for patients with node positive breast cancer. However, we found no evidence that it reduces the incidence of lymphedema.     

前哨淋巴结活检指导保留乳房手术患者行选择性腋窝淋巴结清除术的研究

目的研究通过前哨淋巴通道（SLC）行前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）以指导保留乳房手术（breast—conservingtherapy,BCT）患者行选择性腋窝淋巴结清除术（ALND）的可行性。方法采用非随机对照研究,在BCT患者中采用联合示踪法通过SLC行SLNB。对术中检出的前哨淋巴结（SLN）行细胞印片和冰冻切片检查,根据SLN的术中病理结果行选择性ALND,其中SI。N阳性、行ALND者为A组,SI。N阴性仅行SLNB者为B组。定性资料的比较选用Y。检验,两组均数的比较采用t检验。结果2009年1月至2009年12月采用联合示踪法行SLNB的BCT患者共43例,检出42例,A组28例,B组14例。两组患者的SLC均被显影。每例患者被检出SLN1～3枚,平均1．4枚,共被检出59枚。SLNB检出率为97．7％（42／43）。术后病理检查共检出阳性SI,N29例,其中术中细胞印片、冰冻切片及二者联合病理检测分别检出阳性淋巴结27、27、28例。A组ALND相关并发症发生率明显高于B组（P=0．003）。结论通过SLC行SLNB有助于准确定位SLN,能够指导BCT患者行选择性ALND,降低术后并发症。     

200 Sentinel lymph node biopsies without axillary lymph node dissection -- no axillary recurrences after a 3-year follow-up

The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate of axillary recurrences in sentinel lymph node (SLN)-negative breast cancer patients after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone without further axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Between May 1999 and February 2002, 333 consecutive patients with primary invasive breast cancer up to 4 cm and clinically negative axillae were entered into this prospective study. Sentinel lymph nodes were identified using the combined method with blue dye (Patent blue V) and technetium 99m-labelled albumin (Nanocoll). Sentinel lymph nodes were examined by frozen sections, standard haematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry staining. In SLN-positive patients, ALND was performed. Sentinel lymph node-negative patients had no further ALND. The SLN identification rate was 98.5% (328 out of 333). In all, 128 out of 328 (39.0%) patients had positive SLNs and complete ALND. A total of 200 out of 328 (61.0%) patients were SLN negative and had no further ALND. The mean tumour size of SLN-negative patients was 16.5 mm. The mean number of SLNs removed was 2.1 per patient. There were no local or axillary recurrences at a median follow-up of 36 months. The absence of axillary recurrences after SLNB without ALND in SLN-negative breast cancer patients supports the hypothesis that SLNB is accurate and safe while providing less surgical morbidity than ALND. Short-term results are very promising that SLNB without ALND in SLN-negative patients is an excellent procedure for axillary staging in a cohort of breast cancer patients with small tumours.     

Clinical impact of false-negative sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer

Aims

To evaluate the incidence of false-negative (FN) sentinel lymph node (SLN) cases, their correlation with a series of clinico-pathologic parameters and their impact on adjuvant treatment indications and on clinical axillary relapse in the setting of a multicentric clinical trial comparing SLN biopsy with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Methods

A series of 697 patients with primary breast cancer ≤ 3 cm were randomized to SLN biopsy associated with ALND (ALND arm) or to SLN biopsy followed by ALND only if the SLN was metastatic (SLN arm). The FN SLN rate was assessed in the ALND arm. A series of 11 clinico-pathological parameters were tested for a possible association with FN results. The indications for adjuvant treatments were evaluated by considering both the FN nodal stages, as indicated by the SLN, and the true positive axillary status, as indicated by completion ALND. The occurrence of clinically evident axillary recurrences was evaluated in the two arms.

Results

The FN rate was 16.7%. Of the clinico-pathologic parameters tested, only a tumour size ≤ 2 cm and the presence of a single metastatic axillary node was significantly associated with a risk of FN (p = 0.033 and p = 0.018, respectively). The FN SLN would have led to different adjuvant therapy indications in 12/18 cases. At 56 months, no clinically evident axillary nodal recurrences were present in the ALND arm patients, whereas one case of axillary recurrence was detected in the SLN arm patients.

Conclusions

FN SLN biopsy is not uncommon, especially in the presence of a small primary tumour with a single nodal metastasis. An FN finding can lead to less than optimal adjuvant treatment. However, the clinical impact of FN in terms of axillary recurrence at 56 months was minimal.     

A patient- and assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial of axillary reverse mapping (ARM) in patients with early breast cancer

BackgroundAxillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in breast cancer patients is infamous for its accompanying morbidity. Selective preservation of upper extremity lymphatic drainage and accompanying lymph nodes crossing the axillary basin - currently resected during a standard ALND - has been proposed as a valuable surgical refinement.MethodsPeroperative Axillary Reversed Mapping (ARM) was used for selective preservation of upper extremity lymphatic drainage. A multicentre patient- and assessor-blinded randomized study was performed in clinical node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer patients. Patients were randomized to undergo either standard-ALND or ARM-ALND. Primary outcome was the presence of surgery-related lymphedema at six, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. Secondary outcomes included patient reported and objective signs and symptoms of lymphedema, pain, paraesthesia, numbness, loss of shoulder mobility, quality of life and axillary recurrence risk.ResultsNo significant differences were found between both groups using the water displacement method with respect to measured lymphedema. ARM-ALND resulted in less reported complaints of lymphedema at six, 12 and 24 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). No axillary recurrence was found in both groups.ConclusionsIn contrast to results of volumetric measurement, patient reported outcomes support selective sparing of the upper extremity lymphatic drainage using ARM as valuable surgical refinement in case of ALND in clinically node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer. If completion ALND in clinically node negative, sentinel node positive early breast cancer is considered, selective sparing of upper extremity axillary lymphatics by implementing ARM should be carried out in order to reduce morbidity.     

低负荷前哨淋巴结阳性早期乳腺癌患者腋窝处理策略

前哨淋巴结阳性患者的常规处理是进一步行腋窝淋巴结清扫,但腋窝淋巴结清扫会带来血清肿、上肢功能障碍、水肿等并发症。Z0011、IBCSG 23-01和AMAROS的Ⅲ期随机对照临床研究探索均为在临床N0期患者中安全减免前哨淋巴结活检阳性后的腋窝淋巴结清扫,为这部分患者的腋窝处理提供了新选择,但也给辅助放疗决策带来了新问题。本文将主要基于上述三项临床研究和腋窝淋巴结转移复发风险相关最新文献,针对包括手术和辅助放疗在内的低负荷前哨淋巴结阳性患者腋窝处理策略进行综述。     

Association between Number of Retrieved Sentinel Lymph Nodes and Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema

PurposeSentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become a standard axillary staging surgery for early breast cancer, and the proportion of patients requiring axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is decreasing. We aimed to evaluate the association between the number of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) retrieved and the risk of lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm.MethodsProspectively collected medical records of 910 patients were reviewed. Lymphedema was defined as a difference in circumference > 2 cm compared to the contralateral arm and/or having clinical records of lymphedema treatment in the rehabilitation clinic.ResultsTogether with an objective and subjective assessment of lymphedema, 36 patients (6.1%) had lymphedema in the SLNB group and 85 patients (27.0%) had lymphedema in the ALND group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis of the whole cohort, risk factors significantly associated risk with the development of lymphedema were body mass index, mastectomy (vs. breast-conserving surgery), ALND, and radiation therapy. In logistic regression models in the SLNB group only, there was no correlation between the number of retrieved SLNs and the incidence of lymphedema. In addition, in the Pearson correlation analysis, no correlation was observed between the number of retrieved SLNs and the difference in circumference between the ipsilateral and contralateral upper extremities (correlation coefficients = 0.067, p = 0.111).ConclusionThe risk of lymphedema in breast cancer surgery and adjuvant treatments is multifactorial. The number of retrieved lymph nodes during sentinel biopsy was not associated with the incidence of lymphedema.     

Development of a predictive score of axillary lymph node dissection based on targeted axillary dissection in patients with breast cancer diagnosis,affected lymph nodes,and neoadjuvant treatment

AimTo determine predictive factors of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) results in breast cancer (BC) patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), and subsequent staging using Targeted Axillary Dissection (TAD).Material and methodCase-control study between January 2016 and August 2019. Patients with BC, cN1 staging, marked with a metallic clip prior to NACT, and subsequently staged with TAD and ALND were included. They were divided into 2 groups: ALND patients with or without metastatic involvement (group 1 and group 2, respectively). We carried out a univariate analysis comparing clinical, radiological, surgical and pathological variables, and a logistic regression, (dependent variable: positive result of ALND; independent variables: number of suspicious lymph nodes in diagnostic ultrasound, positive hormone receptors, HER2 positive, complete clinical-radiological response to NACT, positive TAD, and biopsy of ≤2 nodes in TAD). A score for prediction of a metastatic ALND was proposed, with an internal validation study.Results60 patients were included: Group 1: 33 (55.0%); Group 2: 27 (45.0%). Tumor size (Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.67; 95%CI 1.02–2.74), number of suspected nodes in ultrasound (OR = 2.20; 95%CI 1.01–4, 77), HER2 positive (OR 0.04; 95%CI 0.003–0.54), clinical-radiological response to NACT (OR = 0.07; 95%CI 0.01–0.75), and positive TAD (OR 15.48; 95%CI 1.68–142.78) were independent predictors of a positive result in ALND. We developed a “positive ALND predictive score”, with good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow test: p = 0.65), and discrimination (AUC = 0.93; 95% CI 0, 87–0.99), with highest Youden index (0.7) at cut-off point of 17% risk of positive ALND (sensitivity = 100%; specificity = 70%).ConclusionTumor size, number of suspected nodes, positive HER2, response to NACT, and metastatic TAD are independent predictors of ALND. The predictive score for positive ALND would be a good indicator to safely omit ALND.     

Axillary reverse lymphatic mapping in breast cancer surgery: a comprehensive review

Axillary reverse lymphatic mapping (ARM) is a surgical technique that was first described in 2007 as a method for preserving the lymphatic drainage of the arm during sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for breast cancer. We found that the ARM technique had several limitations that include a poor success rate for identification of arm lymph nodes (ARM nodes) and lymphatics. The occurrence of common lymphatic drainage pathways of the arm and the breast in a subset of patients also raises concerns regarding its oncological soundness. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the ARM procedure in reducing lymphedema risk in breast cancer patients that undergo a variety of treatments, has yet to be clearly defined.     

The State of Surgical Axillary Management and Adjuvant Radiotherapy for Early-stage Invasive Breast Cancer in the Modern Era

Background

For clinical T1-2N0 breast cancer, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has been shown in American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z0011 to be sufficient for women with 1 to 2 positive sentinel lymph nodes with no added benefit for completion axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Z0011 specified whole breast radiotherapy (RT) using standard tangential fields; however, later analysis showed variation in field design. We assessed nationwide practice patterns and examined factors associated with patients undergoing completion ALND and subsequent radiation field design.

Management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer and positive sentinel lymph node biopsy: An evidence-based update in a European breast center

The surgical approach to the axilla in breast cancer has been a controversial issue for more than three decades. Data from recently published trials have provided practice-changing recommendations in this scenario. However, further controversies have been triggered in the surgical community, resulting in heterogeneous diffusion of these recommendations.The development of clinical guidelines for the management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer is a work in progress. A multidisciplinary team discussion was held at the research hospital Policlinico San Matteo from the Università degli Studi di Pavia with the aim to update recommendations for the management of the axilla in patients with breast cancer. An evidence-based approach is presented.Our multidisciplinary panel determined that axillary dissection after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy may be avoided in cN0 patients with micro/macrometastasis to ≤2 sentinel nodes, with age ≥40y, lesions ≤3 cm, who have not received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and have planned breast conservation (BCS) with whole breast radiotherapy (WBRT). Cases with gross (>2 mm) ECE in SLNs are evaluated on individual basis for completion ALND, axillary radiotherapy or omission of both. Patients fulfilling the criteria listed above who undergo mastectomy, may also avoid axillary dissection after multidisciplinary discussion of individual cases for consideration of axillary irradiation. Women 70 years or older with hormone receptors positive invasive lesions ≤3 cm, clinically negative nodes, and serious or multiple comorbidities who undergo BCS with WBRT, may forgo axillary staging/surgery (if mastectomy or larger tumor, comorbidities and life expectancy are taken into account).     

染料法腋窝反向淋巴作图300例临床研究

  目的  研究腋窝反向淋巴作图（axillary reverse mapping,ARM）对上肢淋巴回流管网的辨别和保护作用及对减少腋窝淋巴结清扫术后上肢水肿的作用。  方法  选取2009年6月至2011年5月蚌埠医学院第一附属医院肿瘤外三科300例单侧乳腺癌患者,在进行腋窝淋巴结清扫前,经上臂内侧肌间沟皮下注射亚甲蓝2~3 mL,对上肢来源的淋巴管和淋巴结进行染色,术中加以辨别和保护。术后2个月测量双上臂周径差异（患侧臂周径-健侧臂周径≥2 cm为淋巴水肿）,记录淋巴水肿的发生情况。  结果  300例患者中有195例作图成功,成功率65%。分别于术后6、12、18、24个月进行随访,发现和同期作图失败患者相比较,作图成功患者淋巴水肿的发生率明显降低,差异具有显著性统计学意义。  结论  通过腋窝反向淋巴作图（ARM）可以辨别保护上肢回流的淋巴管道,对预防乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术后上肢水肿具有临床意义。      

Avoidance of axillary lymph node dissection in selected patients with node-positive breast cancer

Aims

Currently, it is standard practice to avoid ALND in patients with negative SLN, whereas this procedure is mandated for those with positive SLN. However, there has been some debate regarding the necessity of complete ALND in all patients with positive SLN. This review article discusses the issues related to eliminating the need for ALND in selected patients with positive nodes.

Methods

A review of the English language medical literature was performed using the MEDLINE database and cross-referencing major articles on the subject, focusing on the last 10 years.

Results

Currently, complete ALND is mandated in patients with SLN macrometastases as well as those with clinically positive nodes. It is not clear whether SLN biopsy is appropriate for axillary staging in patients with initially clinically positive nodes (N1) that become clinically node-negative (N0) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although there is debate regarding whether ALND should be performed in patients with micrometastases in the SLN, it seems premature to abandon ALND in clinical practice. Moreover, it remains unclear whether it is appropriate to avoid complete ALND in patients with ITC-positive SLN alone.

Conclusions

In the absence of data from randomised trials, the long-term impact of SLN biopsy alone on axillary recurrence and survival rate in patients with SLN micrometastases as well as those with ITC-positive SLN remains uncertain. These important issues must be determined by careful analysis of the results of ongoing clinical trials.     

The influence of axillary reverse mapping related factors on lymphedema in breast cancer patients

Purpose

Upper extremity lymphedema (LE) is a harmful breast cancer complication. It has been reported that patient- or treatment-related risk factors of LE. Axillary reverse mapping (ARM) has been performed to prevent LE during axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) by visualizing the upper extremity lymphatics. We investigated whether ARM related factors included novel predictive risk factors of LE.

Methods

ARM revealed fluorescent axillary nodes (ARM nodes) in 76 patients by fluorescence imaging. Only ARM nodes within the ALND field were removed. Twenty-four (32%) patients developed LE (LE+) and 52 did not (LE−) during a median 24-month post-surgical follow-up period. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical features and ARM factors of LE+ and LE−.

Results

The positive ARM node rate among LE+ was 42%, significantly greater frequency than that among LE− (13%: p ≤ 0.05). Cranial collectors (lymphatic ducts along or above the axillary vein) were significantly more frequent in LE− (44%) than in LE+ (21%: p ≤ 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed postoperative radiation and positive ARM nodes to be positive risk factors and cranial collectors to be a negative risk factor of LE.

Conclusions

ARM factors could predict the incidence of LE post-axillary surgeries in breast cancer patients.     

Patterns of axillary staging and management in clinically node positive breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant systemic therapy: Results of a survey amongst breast cancer specialists

IntroductionVarious options for axillary staging after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) are available for breast cancer patients with a clinically positive axillary node (cN+). This survey assessed current practices amongst breast cancer specialists.Materials and methodsA survey was performed amongst members of the European Society of Surgical Oncology and two UK-based Associations: the Association of Breast Surgery and the British Association of Surgical Oncology. The survey included 3 parts: 1. general information, 2. diagnostic work-up and 3. axillary staging after NST.ResultsA total of 310 responses were collected: parts 1, 2 and 3 were fully completed by 282 (91%), 270 (87.1%) and 225 (72.6%) respondents respectively. After NST, 153/267 (57.3%) respondents currently perform ALND routinely and 114 (42.7%) respondents perform less invasive restaging of the axilla with possible omission of ALND. In the latter group, 85% does and 15% does not use nodal response seen on imaging to guide the axillary restaging procedure. Regarding respondents that do use imaging: 95% would perform a less invasive staging procedure in case of complete nodal response on imaging (63% sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), excision of a previously marked positive node with SLNB (21%) and without SLNB (11%)). In case of no nodal response on imaging 77% would perform ALND.ConclusionCurrent axillary staging and management practices in cN + patients after NST vary widely. To determine optimal axillary staging and management in terms of quality of life and oncologic safety, breast specialists are encouraged to include patients in clinical trials/prospective registries.     

乳腺癌新辅助化疗后腋窝及内乳前哨淋巴结活检研究

背景与目的：临床新辅助化疗(neoadjuvant chemotherapy,NAC)后腋窝淋巴结(axillary lymph node,ALN)转阴的患者腋窝前哨淋巴结活检(axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy, ASLNB)能否替代腋窝淋巴结清扫(axillary lymph node dissection,ALND)尚存在争议,且此前研究只评估ALN病理状况而未评估内乳淋巴结(internal mammary lymph node,IMLN)状况。本研究旨在评估NAC后乳腺癌患者接受ASLNB和内乳前哨淋巴结活检(internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy,IM-SLNB)的临床意义。方法：回顾性分析2012年1月—2014年12月山东省肿瘤医院乳腺病中心原发性乳腺癌(cT_1-4N_0-3M₀)60例患者的临床资料,将患者分为3组：A组初始cN₀且NAC后为ycN₀,B组初始cN+且NAC后为ycN₀,C组NAC后为ycN₊。术前接受核素注射。术中A组和B组联合亚甲蓝行ASLNB。A组仅对腋窝前哨淋巴结(axillary sentinel lymph node,ASLN)阳性者行ALND;B组行ASLNB后转行ALND;C组直接行ALND。术前淋巴显像和(或)γ探测仪发现内乳前哨淋巴结(internal mammary sentinel lymph node,IM-SLN)的患者行IM-SLNB。结果：A组、B组和C组分别收集6例、45例和9例。A组ASLNB成功率为100%(6/6),仅1例ASLN阳性转行ALND。B组ASLNB成功率为100%(45/45),假阴性率为17.9%(5/28)。其中检出1枚、2枚和＞2枚ASLN的假阴性率分别为27.3%(3/11)、20.0%(2/10)和0%(0/7)。C组所有患者ALN均有转移。IM-SLN总体显像率为63.3%(38/60)。IM-SLNB的总体成功率为97.4%(37/38),转移率为8.1%(3/37),并发症发生率为5.3%(2/38)。结论：对初始cN₀且NAC后为ycN₀者ASLN阴性时ASLNB可替代ALND;对初始cN₊且NAC后为ycN₀者,联合双示踪剂且检出＞2枚ASLN可满足临床可接受的假阴性率(<10%);对NAC后仍为ycN₊者应行ALND。NAC后IM-SLN显像者应行IM-SLNB,以获得完整分期、评估预后并指导术后放疗,有望完善病理完全缓解(pathological complete response,pCR)定义。