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.     

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.     

Axillary recurrence after negative sentinel lymph node biopsy

Background Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has almost totally replaced axillary lymph node dissection as the first-line axillary procedure for node-negative breast cancer. SLNB has a false-negative rate of 0–22%, and regional nodal recurrence is a major concern after SLNB. In this study, we assessed axillary recurrence and risk factors in breast cancer patients 40 months after negative SLNB. Methods Of 940 patients with node-negative breast cancer who underwent SLNB between December 2003 and January 2006 at Asan Medical Center, 720 were negative on SLNB, as determined using 99-m TC radiocolloid and subareolar injection technique. Of the 720 patients negative on SLNB, 174 underwent further axillary dissection, 253 underwent node sampling, and 293 received SLNB only. Results A mean of 2.1 SLNs was removed per patient. At a median follow-up of 40 months (range 24–49 months), recurrence in the axilla was observed in three patients, all of whom had undergone SLNB only; two of these patients also had recurrences in internal mammary lymph nodes. Tumors in all three patients were hormone-receptor negative, and two were c-erbb2 negative. Conclusion The axillary recurrence rate was low in patients negative on SLNB. Negative hormone-receptor status and high nuclear grade may be risk factors for regional nodal failure after SLNB.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy without axillary dissection after an intraoperative negative histological investigation in 358 invasive breast cancer cases

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an important treatment option for breast cancer patients, as it can accurately predict axillary status. Our previous study using dye with or without radioisotope showed the accuracy and sensitivity of SLNB to be 97% and 94%, respectively. Based on these results, axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was eliminated starting in January, 1999 in patients with intraoperatively negative SLNB at our institution. The present study shows the results and outcomes of SLNB as a sole procedure for patients with invasive breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three-hundred-fifty-four patients and 358 cases of invasive breast cancer (4 bilateral breast carcinoma) treated with SLNB alone after an intraoperative negative SLNB were studied prospectively from January 1999 to December 2001. RESULTS: The number of the identified SLNs per case ranged from 1 to 8 (mean, 2.5). Of a total of 358 cases, 297 (83%) were treated with hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy, and 281 (78%) were treated with radiotherapy to the conserved breast (50 Gy+/-10 Gy boost), the axilla (50 Gy), or the both sites. After a median follow-up of 21 (range 6-42) months, no patient developed an axillary relapse. Four cases initially recurred in distant organs and one case in the conserved breast. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that an intraoperative negative SLNB without further ALND may be a safe procedure when strict SLNB is performed. To better assess the safety, however, may require longer follow-up.     

Probability of axillary lymph node metastasis when sentinel lymph node biopsy is negative in women with clinically node negative breast cancer: a bayesian approach

BACKGROUND: Although sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB)is highly accurate in predicting axillary nodal status in patients with breast cancer, it has been shown that the procedure is associated with a few false negative results. The risk of leaving metastatic nodes behind in the axillary basin when SLNB is negative should be estimated for an individual patient if SLNB is performed to avoid conventional axillary lymph node dissection(ALND). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 512 women with T1-3N0M0 breast cancer was conducted to derive a prevalence of nodal metastasis by T category as a pre-test(i.e., before SLNB)probability and to examine potential confounders on the relationship between T category and axillary nodal involvement. Probability of nodal metastasis when SLNB was negative was estimated by means of Bayes' theorem which incorporated the pre-test probability and sensitivity and specificity of SLNB. RESULTS: Axillary nodal metastasis was observed in 6.1% of T1a-b, 25.1% of T1c, 28.7% of T2, 35.0% of T3 tumors. Point estimates for the probability of nodal involvement when SLNB was negative ranged from 0.3-1.3% for T1a-b, 1.6-6.3% for T1c, 2.0-7.5% for T2, and 2.6-9.7% for T3 tumors with representative sensitivities of 80%, 85%, 90% and 95%, respectively. The risk may be higher when the tumor involves the upper outer quadrant of the breast, while it may be lower for an underweight woman. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of axillary lymph node metastasis when SLNB is negative can be estimated using a Bayesian approach. Presenting the probability to the patient may guide the decision of surgery without conventional ALND.     

前哨淋巴结活检在早期乳腺癌患者腋窝管理中的研究进展

传统的观点认为腋窝淋巴结清扫(axillary lymph node dissection,ALND)是前哨淋巴结(sentinellymph node,SLN)阳性乳腺癌患者的标准治疗方法,而ALND容易引起上肢水肿、功能障碍等术后并发症,影响患者生活质量.近几年研究显示,对于SLN阳性的早期乳腺癌,并非所有患者都需...     

Long-term morbidity of patients with early breast cancer after sentinel lymph node biopsy compared to axillary lymph node dissection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely accepted as an excellent method in the management of early breast cancer in patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes. Since SLNB requires less traumatic surgery to the axilla than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), it was assumed to result in reduced shoulder/arm morbidity. However, data on long-term morbidity after SNLB are sparse. The present study was set up to compare long-term arm/shoulder morbidity as well as oncological outcome after SLNB versus ALND in patients with early breast cancer. METHODS: Oncological outcome, objective shoulder/arm morbidity, and subjective complaints after SLNB or ALND for T1 breast cancer were assessed after a minimum follow-up of 20 months. RESULTS: One hundred thirty four patients were included in the study. Thirty-one patients underwent SNLB only, 103 patients had SLNB followed by ALND or ALND only. Loss of strength and hypaesthesia were less frequent after SLNB. No lymph oedema occurred after SNLB without adjuvant radiotherapy. Subjective complaints concerning pain, hypaesthesia, and paresthesia were more common in the ALND group. No axillary recurrence developed in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated SLNB in node-negative pT1 breast cancer patients is a highly efficient tool to reduce postoperative long-term morbidity without compromising the local control of the disease. The reported ameliorations should favour SLNB as staging and treatment modality in patients suffering from early breast cancer.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after previous axillary surgery: A review

Background

The utility of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in the management of breast cancer is currently under close scrutiny. At primary diagnosis the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has restricted ALND for proven nodal disease, however the management of the axilla at local (in-breast) relapse is less clearly defined with many undergoing routine ALND. This review examines the role of SLNB in the re-operative setting with the objective of developing an axillary management algorithm for use at in-breast local relapse, and restricting ALND to node-positive recurrent cancers.

Methods

We reviewed published reports of SLNB at local relapse in women who had previously undergone axillary surgery either as lymph node biopsy, SLNB, axillary sampling (AS) or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).

Results

There have been no randomised trials. Six reports with 327 cases were identified; of which 61% (199/327) had previous SLNB or ALND with <9 nodes removed. There was an overall successful sentinel lymph node (SLN) localisation at re-operation of 69% (227/327), range of 51-100%. In patients who have previously had limited axillary surgery (<9 nodes removed), the rate of successful SLN localisation was 83% (165/199), range of 68-100% and 142/165 (86%, range 80-100%) were node negative. In these highly selected patients no axillary recurrences were noted in those who had a negative SLN at re-operation after 26-46 months follow up.

Conclusion

SLNB at in-breast relapse is feasible and safe with successful localisation related to the extent of previous axillary surgery.     

Prognosis of breast cancer patients treated with sentinel node biopsy in Japan

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node biopsy predicts accurate pathological nodal staging. The survival of node-negative breast cancer patients should be evaluated between the patients treated with sentinel node biopsy alone and those treated with axillary lymph node dissection. METHODS: Ninety-seven patients with negative axillary nodes underwent sentinel node biopsy immediately followed by axillary lymph node dissection between January 1998 and June 1999 (the ALND group). Since then, if sentinel lymph nodes were negative on the frozen-section diagnosis, 112 patients underwent sentinel node biopsy alone without axillary lymph node dissection between July 1999 and December 2000 (the SNB group). We retrospectively observed the outcome of the two study groups. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 52 months in all patients. Relapse-free survival rates at 3 years in the ALND and SNB groups were 94% and 93%, respectively. Five of the 112 patients in the SNB group had overt axillary metastases. Three of them with axillary metastases alone were treated with delayed axillary lymph node dissection. These three patients have been free of other events for 3 years after local salvage treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel node biopsy will emerge as a standard method to diagnose axillary nodal staging for clinically node-negative breast cancer patients.     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients: the medical oncology perspective

Recent data indicates that the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a possible alternative to axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in early breast cancer patients, with minimal risk of complications. From the medical oncologist's point of view, the impact of SLNB on the management of patients should consider if SLNB is useful to choose adjuvant treatment, if it is adequate to provide local control, and what is the significance of lymph node micrometastases on treatment and staging. Lymph node involvement has always been recognised as the most important prognostic factor in early-stage breast cancer, even if many other parameters have been evaluated in recent years. However, the lack of knowledge of nodal status in patients with false-negative SLNB seems to result in an undertreatment in a very low percentage of patients. Adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy with tamoxifen are associated with an absolute reduction of the risk of recurrence and death both in node-positive and in node-negative patients, then if patients are treated with modern adjuvant systemic therapy, any effect associated with false negative SLN should be minimised. The impact of axillary treatment on survival is still controversial, but in recent times axillary lymph node positivity is considered as an indicator for high risk of systemic diffusion of the disease rather than a possible origin of systemic metastases. The significance of occult sentinel lymph node metastases detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or molecular biology on prognosis is still uncertain. The new version of the staging system of breast cancer has recognised the need for a standard diagnostic approach and of a nomenclature system which also takes SLNB into account.     

Efficacy of sentinel lymph node biopsy in male breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is rapidly becoming the standard of care in the treatment of women with early stage breast cancer. Male breast cancer although relatively rare, has typically been treated with mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Men who develop breast carcinoma have the same risk as their female counterparts of developing the morbidities associated with axillary dissection. SLNB has been championed as a procedure aimed at preventing those morbidities. We recently have evaluated the role of SLNB in the treatment of men with early stage breast cancer. METHODS: Among the 18 men treated at the University of Michigan Medical Center for breast cancer from May 1998 to November 2002, 6 were treated with SLNB. RESULTS: The mean tumor size was 1.6 cm. The mean patient age was 59.8 years. All of the patients had one or more sentinel lymph nodes identified. Two of the six did not have confirmatory axillary dissection. Three of the six had positive sentinel lymph nodes (50%). Only one of the three patients with a positive sentinel node had more nodes positive. One of the six patients had a positive node on frozen section and underwent immediate complete axillary dissection. This patient had no additional positive nodes. No patients in our series had immunohistochemical studies of the lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Men with early stage breast carcinoma may be offered the management option of SLNB since in the hands of experienced surgeons it has a success rate apparently equal to that in their female counterparts.     

Comparing Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients with Sentinel Lymph Node Metastasis with and without Completion Axillary Lymph Node Dissection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Currently, the standard method for staging and treatment of axillary lymph nodes for early-stage breast cancer is sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), while axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is used in cases with palpable axillary lymph nodes or positive SLNB cases. The aim of this review was to compare overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and axillary recurrence in early-stage breast cancer patients underwent SLNB or SLNB and completion ALND. Methods: The databases of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched using the key words of “breast cancer”, “axillary lymph node dissection”, and “sentinel lymph node dissection”. In addition, other sources were searched for ongoing studies (i.e., clinicaltrials.gov). The clinical trials were evaluated based on the Jadad quality criteria, and cohort studies were evaluated according to the STROBE criteria. At the end of the search, the articles were screened independently by two reviewers to check their eligibility to be included in the study. Afterwards, the data were extracted independently by two researchers. Results: After searching the databases, 169 papers were retrieved. However, after removing the duplicates and studying the titles and abstracts of these papers, only ten ones underwent further investigation. After reading full-text of each article, four studies were finalized. Following a manual search, 27 papers were entered into the study for the final evaluation, 11 of which were included in the meta-analysis based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings showed no significant differences in OS, DFS, and axillary recurrence in early-stage breast cancer patients underwent SLNB or SLNB and completion ALND. Conclusion: The findings did not confirm that ALND improved OS, DFS, and axillary recurrence in patients who were clinically node-negative and positive SLNB.     

前哨淋巴结时代乳腺癌的精准区域处理：演进与展望

区域淋巴结状况是乳腺癌重要的预后指标之一,可以指导分期和辅助治疗策略的制定。近30年来乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检术（sentinel lymph node biopsy,SLNB）研究发展迅速,循证医学Ⅰ类证据支持其为临床腋窝淋巴结阴性早期乳腺癌患者安全、有效的腋窝分期技术,前哨淋巴结阴性及低肿瘤负荷患者SLNB替代腋窝淋巴结清扫术后腋窝复发风险和并发症极低。乳腺癌局部区域控制新理念——应该综合考虑远处转移风险、全身治疗效果与不良反应以及局部区域治疗（手术/放疗）效果与不良反应——推动了SLNB适应人群不断扩展,新辅助治疗与SLNB、内乳SLNB将进一步促进区域淋巴结处理降阶梯,豁免腋窝手术临床研究值得期待。SLNB标志着乳腺癌区域淋巴结迈入微创化精准诊疗时代。本文就前哨淋巴结时代乳腺癌的精准区域处理的演进过程和最新进展进行总结,以期为广大临床工作者提供参考。     

乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检意义初探

目的：探讨开展乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检(Sentinel lymph node biopsy，SLNB)的必要性、可行性、准确性及临床应用价值。方法：对45例临床、B超及钼靶检测腋窝LN阴性的原发乳腺癌患者，术中在原发肿瘤周围注射专利蓝进行腋窝淋巴结切除(SLNB)，随后行腋窝淋巴结清扫(ALND)。术中对部分SLN、术后对全部LN行常规病理检查。结果：45例患者中41例检测到SLN，成功率91．1％；假阴性率为6．66％，SLNB总的敏感性是93．3％，特异性是96．1％；总的阳性和阴性预测值分别是93．3％和96．1％。结论：乳腺癌SLNB是一项有实用价值的新技术，目前国内外仍在研究阶段，随着研究的扩大与深入将有可能取代常规的ALND。     

前哨淋巴结活检术在早期乳腺癌保乳术中的应用

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活检术（sentinellymph node biopsy,SLNB）在早期乳腺癌保乳术中的应用效果。方法回顾性分析56例pT1.2N0M0期乳腺癌行保乳术＋前哨淋巴结活检术的临床资料。56例SLN阴性,未行腋窝淋巴结清扫术（axillary lymph node dissection,ALND）。术后辅以化疗、放疗,激素受体阳性患者行内分泌治疗。结果56例成功施行保乳手术,保乳术后双乳对称。SLNB替代ALND者各项术后并发症少。中位随访时间36个月（1～72个月）,1例发现局部复发,行乳腺癌改良根治术时发现腋窝淋巴结转移;1例发现腋窝淋巴结复发转移。结论SLNB可以缩小手术范围,减少术后并发症,保留腋窝形态,提高保乳质量。     

The sentinel node biopsy after previous breast surgery: preliminary results on 543 patients treated at the European Institute of Oncology

Background. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is an accurate alternative to complete axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients. A previous breast biopsy has been considered a relative contraindication to SLNB. We examined the accuracy of SLNB by following the axillary relapses after the procedure in patients who had undergone a breast biopsy before SLNB.Patients and Methods. Up to December 2003, 4351 patients with the diagnosis of invasive breast cancer underwent SLNB at the European Institute of Oncology. Already, 543 of these patients had undergone a breast biopsy; from June 1997 to January 2004, these patients received SLNB by lymphoscintigraphy performed on the biopsy area. We followed these patients with a clinical assessment every 6 months and instrumental examinations every year, particularly focusing on the research of axillary relapse of disease.Results. In 70.4% of cases, the sentinel node was negative, and only three cases underwent further axillary dissection. The sentinel node was identified in 99% of cases and this was the only positive node in 61.5% of cases with positive axillary nodes. The median follow-up was 2 years; 4 nodal recurrences were observed: 3 axillary lymph node relapses and 1 loco-regional.Conclusions. SLNB accuracy after a previous breast biopsy is comparable with the results obtained in validation studies. SLNB after a previous breast biopsy can be considered a standard procedure. Lymphoscintigraphy identifies the sentinel node in 99% of patients.     

国产亚甲蓝标记乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检64例分析

[目的]评估乳腺癌前哨淋巴结活检（SLNB）对预测腋窝淋巴结转移状态的价值。[方法]64例临床Ⅰ、Ⅱ期原发女性乳腺癌，体检无腋淋巴结肿大或虽有肿大而估计非转移性，术中在原发肿瘤周围注射亚甲蓝示踪定位，进行SLNB和腋淋巴结清扫（ALND）。术后对全部前哨淋巴结（SLN）和腋淋巴结（ALN）行常规病理检查。[结果]64例中检出SLN者53例，检出率为82．8％。其中Nn组腋窝淋巴结预测准确度为91.4％，阳性预测符合率100％（5／5）；无假阴性，阴性预测符合率100％（30／30）。N1组准确度仅72．2％（13／18）。腋窝淋巴结肿大不影响SLNB成功率，但降低SLN预测ALN准确度；肿块切检后行SLNB可降低成功率；注射亚甲蓝后60min内解剖SLN不影响SLNB成功率。[结论]在肿块切检前注射亚甲蓝示踪定位，SLNB成功率高，能准确预测（T1，T2）N0M0乳腺癌患者的转移状态。     

前哨淋巴结活检对乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状况的预测价值

目的探讨前哨淋巴结活检(SLNB)对乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状况的预测价值。方法以36例体检无腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌患者为研究对象，用美蓝皮下注射染色法定位前哨淋巴结(SLY)，行SLNB，以病理检查结果计算SLNB的成功率及假阴性率、假阳性率、准确性、灵敏度、特异度、阳性符合率、阴性符合率、阳性结果预测值、阴性结果预测值。结果36例患者行SLNB，成功率为97．2％，灵敏度为92．9％。特异度为100％，假阴性率为7．7％，假阳性率为O％，准确率为95．8％，阳性符合率为92．3％；阴性符合率为95．7％，阳性结果预测值为100％，阴性结果预测值为93．9％。结论美蓝皮下注射染色法行SLNB有很高的成功率，SLNB能够准确地预测乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移状况。     

Sentinel lymph node biopsy following previous axillary surgery in recurrent breast cancer

IntroductionIpsilateral breast recurrence or second primary breast cancer can develop in patients who have undergone breast conserving surgery (BCS) and axillary surgery. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of a reoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) as a repeated axillary staging procedure.Patients and methodsFrom August 2014 through January 2017 patients with locally recurrent breast cancer or with BRCA mutation requiring risk reduction mastectomy as a second surgical procedure, underwent repeat SLNB in three Hungarian Breast Units with a radiocolloid (and blue dye) technique.ResultsHundred and sixty repeat SLNBs were analysed, 80 after previous SLNB and 80 after previous total or partial axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). SLN identification was successful in 106 patients (66%); 77/80 (77.5%) and 44/80 (55%) in the SLNB and ALND groups, respectively. (p < 0.003). Extra-axillary lymph drainage was more frequent in the ALND group (19/44, 43,2% versus 7/62, 11,3%; p < 0.001). Lymphatic drainage to the contralateral axilla was observed in 14 patients (11 in the ALND group, p = 0.025), isolated parasternal drainage was detected in 4 patients (p = 0.31). Only 9/106 patients with successful repeat SLNB (8,8%, all with 1 SLN removed) had SLN metastasesConclusionsRepeat SLNB is feasible in patients with ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence or new ipsilateral primary tumor after previous BCS and axillary staging. Repeat SLNB should replace routine ALND as the standard axillary restaging procedure in recurrent disease with a clinically negative axilla. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is important to explore extra-axillary lymphatic drainage in this restaging setting.     

Axillary recurrence in women with a negative sentinel lymph node and no axillary dissection in breast cancer

OBJECTIVES: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is widely used for staging breast cancer. SLNB accurately determines axillary lymph node status with a low false negative rate. There remains concern that omitting axillary dissection may lead to recurrence in the axilla, and impact long term survival. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of axillary lymph node recurrence in patients who had a negative sentinel lymph node and did not undergo axillary node dissection. METHODS: Data was collected on all patients who had negative SLNB at Roswell Park Cancer Institute between July 1997 and June 2002. Demographics, type of operation, postoperative systemic, and radiation therapy, co-morbidity score, hormone receptor status, and the pathologic features of the tumor were abstracted for each patient. For each woman with recurrence, the dates of recurrence, the site(s) of recurrence, and the treatment for recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 33 months, 15 of 335 (4.5%) women who had negative SLNBs and who did not undergo completion axillary dissection developed a cancer recurrence. Only two patients (0.6%) had an axillary recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of axillary recurrence following a negative sentinel node biopsy is the same or less than axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) alone. Concerns that omitting completion axillary dissection following a negative SLNB will increase the rate of axillary recurrence appear unfounded.