The significance of regional lymph node dissection in the surgical management of breast cancer

The results of an analysis done on the regional lymph node metastases of 300 patients with operable breast cancer, who were treated in the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital from 1973 to early 1988 are reported herein. It was found that the metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes were closely related to the survival of patients, but they were hardly diagnosed before the operation. Only the dissection of these lymph nodes proved useful for providing the prognostic information. Moreover, in a retrospective study comparing the en bloc extended radical mastectomy versus the other types of mastectomy, the extended radical mastectomy was seen to greatly improve the survival of patients with 3 or less than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Thus, the extended radical mastectomy provides the maximum diagnostic and prognostic information, and gives the best chance of loco-regional control of the disease. The anterior chest deformity created by the extended radical mastectomy, however, should be avoided in those patients without internal mammary involvement. We therefore propose the modified extended mastectomy as a staging operation.     

The modified extended mastectomy using the trap-door method as a staging operation

The choice of operation for breast cancer must be directed towards giving the best chance of local control of the disease. Extended radical mastectomy may be beneficial for patients with internal mammary lymph node metastases, although it has remained controversial. The anterior chest defect created by extended radical mastectomy should be avoided in patients with no metastasis in the internal mammary lymph nodes. This paper, proposes a new technique of modified extended mastectomy using the trap-door method as a staging operation and an intermediate operation between modified radical mastectomy and extended radical mastectomy. In this operation, the axillary dissection could be performed by reflecting the pectoralis major muscle and the internal mammary lymph nodes could be dissected by reflecting the parasternal chest wall in trap-door fashion. In cases in which the metastasis is histologically found in the internal mammary content, extended radical mastectomy by sternal splitting is preferred.     

The significance of regional lymph node dissection in the surgical management of breast cancer

The results of an analysis done on the regional lymph node metastases of 300 patients with operable breast cancer, who were treated in the Department of Surgery (II), Kanazawa University Hospital from 1973 to early 1988 are reported herein. It was found that the metastases of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes were closely related to the survival of patients, but they were hardly diagnosed before the operation. Only the dissection of these lymph nodes proved useful for providing the prognostic information. Moreover, in a retrospective study comparing theen bloc extended radical mastectomyversus the other types of mastectomy, the extended radical mastectomy was seen to greatly improve the survival of patients with 3 or less than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes. Thus, the extended radical mastectomy provides the maximum diagnostic and prognostic information, and gives the best chance of loco-regional control of the disease. The anterior chest deformity created by the extended radical mastectomy, however, should be avoided in those patients without internal mammary involvement. We therefore propose the modified extended mastectomy as a staging operation.     

Five year results of radical mastectomy for breast cancer, by a sternal splitting, intrapleural en bloc resection of the internal mammary lymph nodes

A new operative method of extended radical mastectomy enables complete resection of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. In this paper, we present the histological analysis of the internal mammary involvement, and the estimated 5 year survival rate, of 100 patients with breast cancer of Stage I, II or III, who underwent this operation. The incidences of axillary and internal mammary involvements were 41 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. The metastases in the internal mammary lymph node chain were located from just below the supraclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. The types of lymphatic invasion observed in the internal mammary chain were lymph node metastases in 88 per cent, metastatic lesion in the lymphoid tissue in 29 per cent and cancer cell emboli in the lymphatic channel in 71 per cent. The overall estimated 5 year survival rate was 90.5 per cent. Where there was internal mammary involvement, the estimated 5 year survival rates for those with no axillary lymph node metastasis, those with fewer than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and those with more than 4 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 31.2 per cent, respectively. Although the assumption that more aggressive surgical removal of the primary lesion and the regional lymphatic spread gives a higher cure rate has not been proved, this extended radical mastectomy with adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy seems to give a higher 5 year survival rate for patients with internal mammary involvement.     

Five year results of radical mastectomy for breast cancer,by a sternal splitting,intrapleuralen bloc resection of the internal mammary lymph nodes

A new operative method of extended radical mastectomy enables complete resection of the axillary and internal mammary lymph nodes. In this paper, we present the histological analysis of the internal mammary involvement, and the estimated 5 year survival rate, of 100 patients with breast cancer of Stage I, II or III, who underwent this operation. The incidences of axillary and internal mammary involvements were 41 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively. The metastases in the internal mammary lymph node chain were located from just below the supraclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. The types of lymphatic invasion observed in the internal mammary chain were lymph node metastases in 88 per cent, metastatic lesion in the lymphoid tissue in 29 per cent and cancer cell emboli in the lymphatic channel in 71 per cent. The overall estimated 5 year survival rate was 90.5 per cent. Where there was internal mammary involvement, the estimated 5 year survival rates for those with no axillary lymph node metastasis, those with fewer than 3 metastatic axillary lymph nodes, and those with more than 4 metastatic axillary lymph nodes were 100 per cent, 80 per cent and 31.2 per cent, respectively. Although the assumption that more aggressive surgical removal of the primary lesion and the regional lymphatic spread gives a higher cure rate has not been proved, this extended radical mastectomy with adjuvant chemoendocrine therapy seems to give a higher 5 year survival rate for patients with internal mammary involvement.     

内乳淋巴结活检在乳腺癌分期与辅助治疗中的价值

目的分析乳腺癌经肋间隙内乳淋巴结切除活检在乳腺癌分期与辅助治疗中的价值。方法回顾性分析济南军区总医院甲状腺乳腺外科2003年5月至2014年1月期间305例（根据是否行新辅助化疗分为新辅助化疗组和无新辅助化疗组）行乳腺癌各式改良根治术与经肋间隙内乳淋巴结切除活检患者的相关临床与病理资料,包括患者年龄、腋窝淋巴结、内乳淋巴结转移状况等信息,分析内乳淋巴结对乳腺癌分期与治疗的影响。结果新辅助化疗组共收集乳腺癌患者67例,发生腋窝淋巴结转移者45例（67．2％）,内乳淋巴结转移者23例（34．3％）;乳腺癌淋巴结病理（pN）分期改变者23例（34．3％）,乳腺癌肿瘤病理（pTNM）分期改变者8例（11．9％）。无新辅助化疗组共收集乳腺癌患者238例,发生腋窝淋巴结转移者155例（65．1％）,内乳淋巴结转移者30例（12．6％）;乳腺癌pN分期改变者30例（12．6％）,pTNM分期改变者23例（9。66％）。新辅助化疗组的内乳淋巴结转移率明显高于无新辅助化疗组（χ2=15．7,P〈0．05）,pTNM分期改变率也明显高于无新辅助化疗组贸（χ2=5．3,P〈0．05）。结论经肋间隙内乳淋巴结活检对乳腺癌pN分期、pTNM分期有一定的影响。新辅助化疗不能使所有内乳淋巴结转移癌达到病理完全缓解。经肋间隙内乳淋巴结活检不仅可完善乳腺癌pN和pTNM分期,而且能够指导乳腺癌术后辅助治疗,减少内乳区局部过度治疗,有助于乳腺癌患者个体化治疗。     

Prognostic significance of internal mammary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients]

Examination was made of clinical, histological and biological prognostic factors in 207 patients with invasive breast cancer, and determination was made as to whether variable prognostic factors, especially internal mammary lymph node metastases, would serve as a basis for the prognosis of breast cancer. In a univariate study, overall survival was significantly corrected with tumor size, axillary lymph node status, axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases and DNA ploidy status. In a multivariate study, however, only axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases were recognized as important, and independent prognostic factors on survival. Neither axillary lymph node status nor DNA ploidy status appeared an important prognostic factor. Axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases could not be predicted from their clinical assessment. Only axillary lymph node dissection and biopsy of first and second intercostal spaces were concluded to be useful for accurately indicating the status of these lymph nodes.     

The relationship between lymph node metastases and DNA-ploidy status as prognostic factors in invasive breast cancer

We evaluated the relationship between the regional lymph node metastases and the DNA ploidy status in 207 patients with invasive breast cancer, as well as their prognostic values in estimating the prognosis of breast cancer. A significantly higher incidence of aneuploidy was found in patients with a large T3 or T4 tumor, a positive axillary lymph node status, more than 4 positive axillary lymph nodes or positive internal mammary lymph nodes. In a univariate study, the overall survival was significantly correlated with tumor size, axillary lymph node status, axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases, and DNA ploidy status. In the multivariate analysis, however, only axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases were recognized as important independent prognostic factors on survival. In this series, the DNA ploidy status did not appear to be an independent prognostic factor either in the entire series or in negative axillary node patients, since it was closely correlated with the axillary or internal mammary lymph node metastases, and the axillary node negative patients had an extremely favorable prognosis.     

Lymphoscintigraphic visualization of internal mammary nodes with subtumoral injection of radiocolloid in patients with breast cancer

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether subtumoral injection of radiocolloid is useful for lymphoscintigraphic visualization of the internal mammary node and in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy of the axilla in breast cancer patients. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The presence of retromammary lymphatics connecting to the axillary and internal mammary basins has been demonstrated by early anatomic studies. Thus, it is hypothesized that some lymph, especially that from the parenchyma under the tumor, may drain into both the axillary and internal mammary basins. METHODS: Patients (n = 196) with T1-2, N0 breast cancer underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy with radiocolloid (technetium 99m tin colloid) injection into various sites of the breast, followed by SLN biopsy using the combined method with blue dye. Patients were divided into four groups: group A (n = 41), peritumoral injection of both radiocolloid and blue dye; group B (n = 70), periareolar radiocolloid and peritumoral blue dye; group C (n = 45), intradermal radiocolloid and periareolar blue dye; and group D (n = 40), subtumoral radiocolloid and intradermal blue dye. A retrospective analysis of 1,297 breast cancer patients who underwent extended radical mastectomy with internal mammary node dissection was also conducted to determine the relationship between vertical tumor location (superficial or deep) and frequency of axillary and internal mammary node metastases. RESULTS: One patient (2%) in group A, 3 (4%) in group B, 0 (0%) in group C, and 15 (38%) in group D exhibited hot spots in the internal mammary region on lymphoscintigraphy (P <.001, group D vs. the other groups). The concordance rate of radiocolloid and blue dye methods in detection of SLNs in the axillary basin was significantly lower in group D than in the other groups. In contrast, the mismatch rate (some SLNs were identified by radiocolloid and other SLNs were identified by blue dye, but no SLN was identified by both in the same patient) was significantly higher in group D than in the other groups. In patients treated with extended radical mastectomy, positivity of axillary and internal mammary metastases was significantly higher in patients (n = 215) with deep tumors than those (n = 368) with superficial tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the presence of a retromammary lymphatic pathway from the deep portion of the breast to both axillary and internal mammary basins, which is distinct from the superficial pathway. Therefore, SLN biopsy with a combination of subtumoral and other (peritumoral, dermal, or areolar) injections of radiocolloid will improve both axillary and internal mammary nodal staging.     

Radical mastectomy with intrapleural en bloc resection of internal mammary lymphnode by sternal splitting

An operative method of extended radical mastectomy involving intrapleuralen bloc resection of the internal mammary lymphnodes by sternal split was proposed. The operation enables complete resection of axillary and internal mammary lymphnodes. Seventy patients with primary breast cancer underwent the extended operation and two patients with recurence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain following standard radical mastectomy underwent resection of internal mammary lymphnodes by sternal split, with no fatalities and no increase in postoperative disabilities. Metastases to the internal mammary lymphnode chain were histopathologically found in 14 of 70 patients with primary breast cancer and in two with recurrence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain, following standard radical mastectomy; The location of the metastatic internal mammary lymphnodes was from just below the subclavicular vein to the third intercostal space along the internal mammary vessels. Cancer cells were seen not only in the lymphnodes, but also in lymphatics of areolar tissue near the node or in lymphatics between the parietal pleura and endothoracic fascia in patients with primary breast cancer. And cancer invasion to parietal pleura was seen in patients with recurrence in the internal mammary lymphnode chain following standard radical mastectomy. All these findings indicate the rationality of our extended procedures.     

Radical mastectomy with parasternal node dissection or radiation to the parasternal region for breast cancer of medial or central location

In order to establish a therapeutic approach for primary breast cancer of medial and central origin, we reviewed 183 patients who had been treated by one of the following three modalities at the Second Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School between January, 1965 and December, 1980. Group A (n=70): standard radical mastectomy alone; Group B (n=34): standard radical mastectomy followed by postoperative irradiation to the parasternal and supraclavicular regions, and; Group C (n=62): extended radical mastectomy that included removal of the parasternal lymph nodes. The background factors of the three groups were not significantly different. The overall survival five and ten years following surgery in the three groups were 91 per cent and 79 per cent in group A, 82 per cent and 67 per cent in group B, and 82 per cent and 70 per cent in group C, respectively, showing no significant difference in overall survival among the three groups. When the patients were classified according to the extent of axillary lymph node involvement, there was no difference in survival among the three treatments in patients who had less than three lymph node metastases in the axilla. However, treatment of the parasternal lymph nodes improved survival in the patients who had more than four lymph node metastases in the axilla. Parasternal lymph node involvement definitely worsened the prognosis, showing it to be a good prognostic factor. Thus, extended radical mastectomy should be considered for patients with breast cancer of medial or central location, when extended axillary lymph node involvement is found.     

Halsted Revisited: Internal Mammary Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy as a method to refine and thereby improve nodal staging in breast cancer. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: The internal mammary lymph node status is a major prognostic factor in breast cancer. If positive, prognosis is less favorable. However, staging this regional nodal basin is not performed routinely, thus discarding additional staging information. METHODS: In a consecutive series of 256 patients with primary breast cancer, sentinel node biopsy was performed based on lymphoscintigraphy, intraoperative gamma probe detection, and blue dye mapping using 10 mCi (370 MBq) (99m)Tc-nanocolloid injected peritumorally and 0.5 to 1.0 mL Patent Blue V injected intradermally. During surgery, whenever possible, both axillary and internal mammary sentinel nodes were sampled. RESULTS: Lymphoscintigraphy showed axillary sentinel nodes in 95% (243/256) and additional internal mammary sentinel nodes in 25.3% (65/256). The overall success rate of axillary sentinel node biopsy was 97% (249/256). Sampling the internal mammary basin, based on the results of lymphoscintigraphy, was successful in 63% (41/65). In three patients a small pleural lesion resulted from staging this basin. This technique revealed internal mammary metastases in 26.8% (11/41). In 7.3% (3/41), internal mammary nodes showed metastatic involvement without accompanying axillary metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Internal mammary sentinel node biopsy is feasible without serious additional complications. It improves nodal staging in breast cancer by identifying higher-risk subgroups with internal mammary nodal metastases, which might benefit from altered adjuvant treatment regimens.     

经肋间隙探查定位于内乳区的前哨淋巴结对乳腺癌淋巴分期的影响

目的 探讨乳腺癌前哨淋巴结在内乳区时对其探查与否对淋巴结分期的影响。方法 2006-01—2016-01间,对501例c T1-4N0-1M0期乳腺癌患者进行前哨淋巴结探查术,发现有蓝染淋巴管通向内乳区的患者,经肋间隙入路行内乳区前哨淋巴结活检术(IM-SLNB)+腋窝前哨淋巴结探查+改良根治术100例为A组;行腋窝前哨淋巴结探查+改良根治术401例为B组。观察A组经肋间隙入路IM-SLNB的病理结果与假设该组病例不探查相对比,了解探查对其淋巴分期的影响。观察经肋间隙入路的IMSLNB对手术时间、出血、并发症及恢复等的影响。结果 A组探查发现内乳区淋巴结癌转移19例相对于假设不探查为0例,其淋巴结分期修正率19.0%,(P0.05)有统计学意义;经肋间隙入路IM-SLNB阶段所用时间(23.93±5.89)min;仅1例术中胸廓内动脉出血,切断肋软骨显露血管后结扎止血,出血量约10~20 m L,其余99例均5 m L;胸膜破损0例、气胸0例;术后并发症和愈合时间与B组无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论 选择乳腺癌前哨淋巴结在内乳区时对其进行探查其阳性率高,有助于淋巴结准确分期;经肋间隙入路的内乳区淋巴结探查,创伤小、风险小、不增加并发症。     

Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy should still be performed,especially in the patient with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes

Current studies suggest that the internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy (IM-SLNB) should not be performed routinely, for it did not alter clinical management of breast cancer patients in terms of adjuvant treatment. However, consideration should be given to the fact, the study population in all current research relate to IM-SLNB is the patients with clinically negative axillary lymph nodes. As internal mammary lymph nodes metastases are mostly found concomitantly with axillary metastases, clinical trials currently fail to evaluate the status of internal mammary lymph nodes who really in need. In consideration of the impact to staging and accurate indication of radiation to the internal mammary area, we recommend that research on IM-SLNB should still be encouraged, especially in patients with clinically positive axillary lymph nodes.     

Reevaluation of parasternal lymph node dissection in the treatment of mammary cancer

One hundred and forty one patients with mammary cancer underwent the extended radical mastectomy with parasternal lymph nodes dissection between January, 1966 and December, 1974. From the basis of the present report involvement of parasternal lymph node chain was evaluated retrospectively with respect to the stage, location, size, histological type of cancer, metastasis to axillary and subclavicular lymph nodes, and the five-year survival rate. The parasternal as well as subclavicular and axillary lymph node involvements were not found in non-infiltrating cancer. The more the stage of cancer advanced, the more frequently the parasternal lymph nodes were involved regardless of the location of cancer in the breast. The parasternal lymph node chain alone was rarely involved, but frequently affected along with the axillary lymph nodes. When the parasternal lymph nodes were involved, the five-year survival rate was extremely poor, even after their surgical removal. Subsequently, addition of parasternal lymph node dissection does not seem to be beneficial.     

Reevaluation of parasternal lymph node dissection in the treatment of mammary cancer.

One hundred and forty one patients with mammary cancer underwent the extended radical mastectomy with parasternal lymph nodes dissection between January, 1966 and December, 1974. From the basis of the present report involvement of parasternaly lymph node chain was evaluated retrospectively with respect to the stage, location, size, histological type of cancer, metastasis to axillary and subclavicular lymph nodes, and the five-year survival rate. The parasternal as well as subclavicular and axillary lymph node involvements were not found in non-infiltrating cancer. The more the stage of cancer advanced, the more frequently the parasternal lymph nodes were involved regardless of the location of cancer in the breast. The parasternal lymph node chain alone was rarely involved, but frequently affected along with the axillary lymph nodes. When the parasternal lymph nodes were involved, the five-year survival rate was extremely poor, even after their surgical removal. Subsequently, addition of parasternal lymph node dissection does not seem to be beneficial.     

男性乳腺癌的治疗及预后因素分析:附37例报告

目的　探讨男性乳腺癌 (MBC )的治疗和预后因素。方法　回顾性分析 3 7例男性乳腺癌的临床资料。手术方式包括经典根治术 (10例 ) ,改良根治术 (19例 ) ,单纯乳房切除术 同侧腋窝淋巴结摘除术 (4例 ) ,单纯乳房切除术 (4例 )等。结果　上述手术方式的患者 5年生存率依次为 80 .0 %,78.9%,2 5 .0 %,2 5 .0 %;腋窝淋巴结有转移和无转移的患者 5年生存率分别为 5 0 .0 %和 93 .3 %;雌激素受体 (ER)阳性和阴性的患者 5年生存率分别是 80 .0 %和 42 .8%(P <0 .0 5 ) ;结论　改良根治术是MBC的首选术式 ,术后可根据情况辅以其他治疗 ;腋窝淋巴结转移、病理类型及肿瘤分期等因素影响预后 ,其中手术方式和腋窝淋巴结状况为影响预后的主要因素。     

Prognosis of breast cancer patients after mastectomy and dissection of internal mammary nodes.

The results of the analysis carried out on data on 1119 patients with operable breast cancer treated at the National Cancer Institute of Milan from 1965 to 1979 with enlarged mastectomy are reported. Metastases to internal mammary chain were found to be significantly associated with the maximum diameter of primary (16.1% for tumors less than 2 cm and 24.5% for larger tumors, p = 0.007), the age of the patients (27.6% in patients younger than 40 years, 19.7% in patients between 41-50 years, and 15.6% in patients older than 50 years, p = 0.01). The site of origin of the cancer had no impact on internal mammary node metastases. Patients with positive axillary nodes showed metastases to internal mammary nodes in 29.1% of the cases, while 9.1% of patients with axillary negative nodes had positive retrosternal nodes. Survival was significantly affected by the presence of positive internal mammary nodes: the percentage of 10-year survival varied from 80.4% in patients with axillary and internal mammary negative nodes to 30.0% in patients with both nodal basins involved. Intermediate survival rates (54.6% and 53.0%) were found when one or the other of the nodal stations (axillary and internal mammary) was separately affected. Maximum diameter of the primary significantly affected the survival of each group identified by the status of both axillary and internal mammary nodes. In conclusion, the information on the presence or absence of internal mammary node metastases would be of great importance in formulating the prognosis of breast cancer patients. To obtain this information, a biopsy at the first intercostal space may be reasonable in selected patients (age, maximum diameter, and axillary node involvement being the basis for selection) as long as noninvasive methods of diagnosis are available.     

The Safety and Accuracy of Sentinel-Node Biopsy in Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer—Turkish Experience

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the correlation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) and axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis in early-stage invasive breast cancer in a single institution. One hundred and fifteen patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer first underwent SLND followed by an appropriate surgical procedure (modified radical mastectomy, lumpectomy + axillary dissection, simple mastectomy + mammoplasty). In this series, a radioactive agent (technetium) was used to investigate the sentinel lymph node/nodes. In 28 (24.3%) patients, metastases were found in both SLN and axillary dissections. There were no metastases in either of these procedures in 69 (60%) patients. SLN metastasis was found in 13 (11.3%) patients, but no axillary metastasis was found. No skip metastasis was detected. Five patients in whom the sentinel node was not found were also negative for axillary metastasis. As the studies progress in this direction, it might be possible to avoid axillary dissection in patients with early breast cancer in whom metastasis in SLN cannot be detected. We believe this will reduce morbidity from breast cancer surgeries.     

The safety and accuracy of sentinel-node biopsy in early-stage invasive breast cancer--Turkish experience.

The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the correlation of sentinel lymph node (SLN) and axillary lymph node (ALN) metastasis in early-stage invasive breast cancer in a single institution. One hundred and fifteen patients with early-stage invasive breast cancer first underwent SLND followed by an appropriate surgical procedure (modified radical mastectomy, lumpectomy + axillary dissection, simple mastectomy + mammoplasty). In this series, a radioactive agent (technetium) was used to investigate the sentinel lymph node/nodes. In 28 (24.3%) patients, metastases were found in both SLN and axillary dissections. There were no metastases in either of these procedures in 69 (60%) patients. SLN metastasis was found in 13 (11.3%) patients, but no axillary metastasis was found. No skip metastasis was detected. Five patients in whom the sentinel node was not found were also negative for axillary metastasis. As the studies progress in this direction, it might be possible to avoid axillary dissection in patients with early breast cancer in whom metastasis in SLN cannot be detected. We believe this will reduce morbidity from breast cancer surgeries.