腋窝淋巴结清扫术治疗前哨淋巴结活检阴性乳腺癌的系统评价

目的系统评价腋窝淋巴结清扫术治疗前哨淋巴结活检阴性乳腺癌的有效性和安全性。方法检索CNKI、PubMed、EMBASE、CBM从建库至2013年12月1日的文献资料,选择腋窝淋巴结清扫术和前哨淋巴结活检术治疗乳腺癌患者的试验,严格按照制订纳入和排除标准对纳入的研究进行筛选、资料提取、质量评价和结果分析。使用Revman 5.1软件,进行统计学分析(Meta-分析)。结果最终纳入10篇文献,患者共7731例。因纳入文献在研究类型、测量指标、随访时间以及统计学指标的差异较大,采用亚组分析,Meta分析同质研究,其余采用定性的描述性分析。本研究结果显示,在无病生存率、总体生存率、局部复发率、远处转移率方面,不同随访时间腋窝淋巴结清扫术与前哨淋巴结切除术间差异均无统计学意义。结论对于单发浸润性乳腺癌患者前哨淋巴结活检呈阴性时,可不必行腋窝淋巴结清扫术。目前尚需相关高质量随机对照试验和长期的随访进一步证实此系统评价的结论。     

应用超声刀行乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫近期疗效观察

目的 研究应用超声刀行乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫的安全性及近期疗效。方法 回顾性分析2009年9月至2010年12月,北京大学第一医院乳腺疾病中心应用HARMONIC超声刀配备FOCUS刀头行乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫手术30例的临床资料（研究组）,并选择同期、相同术者完成的以高频单极电刀行腋窝淋巴清扫手术病例为对照组,进行对比观察。结果 研究组的平均腋窝引流时间短于对照组（11.4 vs. 15.7d,P=0.029）,而手术时间、术中出血、淋巴结清扫数量以及淋巴引流总量等方面二者差异无统计学意义。结论 与高频单极电刀相比,应用超声刀行乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫安全可靠并可以缩短术后腋窝引流时间及住院天数。     

Safety of elective hand surgery following axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer

The development of lymphedema is the most feared complication shared by breast cancer survivors undergoing hand surgery after prior axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Traditionally, these patients are advised to avoid any interventional procedures in the ipsilateral upper extremity. However, the appropriateness of some of these precautions was recently challenged by some surgeons claiming that elective hand operations can be safely performed in these patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience and determine the safety of elective hand operations in breast cancer survivors. The medical records of patients operated for different hand conditions after prior breast surgery and ALND at our institution between 1983 and 2002 were reviewed. The techniques and preventive measures performed, use of antibiotics, and upper extremity complications associated with the operations were analyzed. Overall, we operated on 27 patients after prior ALND performed for breast cancer. Follow-up was available for 25 patients. Four patients had pre-existing lymphedema. The surgical technique used was similar to that performed in patients without prior ALND and antibiotic prophylaxis was not given. Delayed wound healing was observed in one patient and finger joint stiffness in another. Two patients with pre-existing lymphedema developed temporary worsening of their condition. None of the patients developed new lymphedema. The results of the present study support the few previous studies, suggesting that hand surgery can be safely performed in patients with prior ALND. Based on these findings, the appropriateness of the rigorous precautions and prohibitions regarding the care and use of the ipsilateral upper extremity may need to be reconsidered.     

乳腺癌行腋窝淋巴结清扫规范、争议与共识

乳腺癌的有效治疗方法很多,但外科手术是公认的乳腺癌治疗的基础。手术成功与否的最根本标志是肿瘤手术区域的局部控制。腋窝淋巴结受累的程度是预测乳腺癌术后复发和生存,指导进一步个体化治疗的最为重要指标。规范的腋窝淋巴结清扫和病理检查对乳腺癌的治疗至关重要。术前判断存在腋窝淋巴结转移的乳腺癌病人,腋窝淋巴结清扫是乳腺癌手术的规范和要求。术前临床诊断无腋窝淋巴结转移（cN0）的早期乳腺癌病人,如果前哨淋巴结活检阴性可不做进一步的腋窝淋巴结清扫也已成为共识。对于前哨淋巴结1或2枚阳性的乳腺癌病人可以不行腋窝淋巴结的清扫的观点仍然存在争论。     

Experience of sentinel node biopsy alone in early breast cancer without further axillary dissection in patients with negative sentinel node

AIMS: The aims of surgical therapy of breast cancer are loco-regional tumour control and staging. Axillary staging is still considered the single most important prognostic indicator in breast cancer. Surgical removal of axillary nodes remains the standard way to assess their involvement in most centres. The morbidity associated with axillary dissection (AD) is well recognized. In recent years sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has evolved. Multiple studies suggest it has the same accuracy as AD in axillary staging and less morbidity in early breast cancer (EBC). SNB has become the standard of practice in EBC in many parts of the world. In Australia, the preference has been to wait for the results of the Sentinel Node versus Axillary Clearance (SNAC) trial as well as other international trials before accepting SNB as a standard of care. The experience of a single surgeon with SNB alone in EBC without further completion axillary dissection (CAD) in negative sentinel node (SLN) is described in the present paper. METHODS: An audit was done of the senior author's prospective data from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons database. Other information was added retrospectively from case notes. RESULTS: Between December 2000 and December 2003, 154 EBC cases (153 patients) underwent SNB alone. An average of four SLN was removed. Of these cases, 31.8% had positive SLNs (excluding 2.6% cases that had isolated tumour cells), of these, 93.9% had metastases (39.1% micro- and 60.9% macro-metastases) in axillary-SLN (ASLN) and almost all of these had CAD. ASLNs were the only positive nodes in 73.9%. Extra-ASLN retrieved in 68.8% of 34% demonstrated on lymphoscintigraphy. Of these, 12.1% were positive (6.1% micro- and macro-metastases each), all internal mammary. Mean follow up was 22.1 months. There was one local-regional-systemic and one systemic recurrence over this time. CONCLUSION: SNB has a valid role in staging of the axilla particularly in low-risk patients. After adequate self audit, SNB offers a minimal morbidity and reliable method of axillary staging. Patients choosing SNB alone must understand that the long-term results of the randomized controlled trial are still pending for level I evidence of long-term efficacy.     

Morbidity associated with axillary surgery for breast cancer

AIM: To determine the prevalence of long-term complications of axillary surgery for breast cancer and whether preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve (ICBN) reduces this morbidity. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was mailed to all patients who had undergone breast cancer and axillary surgery 2.5-6 years previously. The questions addressed symptoms of arm pain, numbness, weakness, stiffness and swelling. The operation notes were reviewed to ascertain the type and extent of surgery and whether the ICBN was preserved or sacrificed. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy of 208 (82%) questionnaires were returned completed. At least one symptom was reported by 130 (76.5%) of patients. Numbness was the most common symptom, present in 60% overall. Patients who had had the ICBN preserved reported significantly less numbness (37.5%vs 71.7% (P < 0.001)). Pain was present in 45.3% of patients and those with the ICBN preserved had significantly less pain (31.3%vs 58.5% (P = 0.02)). Weakness was present in 40%. Swelling was reported in 26.4% and stiffness in 12.2%. CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph node dissection for breast cancer has a high long-term morbidity. Preservation of the ICBN during the axillary procedure significantly reduces this morbidity.     

A retrospective study on the clinical and biological prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer

If axillary lymph node metastases were able to be accurately predicted, dissection could be avoided in some patients with breast cancer whose axillary nodes are clinically negative. In this study, we assessed the relationships between histological axillary lymph node metastases and clinical axillary nodal status, tumor size, DNA-ploidy, c-erbB-2 expression, and the score of the argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region. We then attempted to evaluate their predictive values for axillary lymph node metastasis in 173 patients with invasive breast cancer, retrospectively. The clinical and biological variables were significantly correlated with the presence and degree of axillary lymph node metastases. A metastatic index, calculated from the clinical and biological variables, proved especially useful for predicting axillary lymph node metastases in patients whose axillary nodes were clinically negative. However, the predictive abilities were still limited and thus it was concluded that as yet, only axillary dissection can provide accurate information on axillary lymph node metastases.Recipient of a fellowship from the Japanese-Germany Center Berlin, Germany     

保留肋间臂神经在乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术中的临床价值

目的探讨保留肋间臂神经在乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术中的临床价值。方法选择Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺瘤患者舳例,随机分为两组,实验组50例,在腋窝淋巴结清扫时完整保留肋间臂神经;对照组30例,采用常规方法切除不保留肋间臂神经。术后对两组患者进行随访,观察患侧腋窝及上臂感觉情况并作比较。结果术后3d、1个月、3个月及6个月实验组患侧腋窝及上臂感觉障碍发生率均小于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论在Ⅰ、Ⅱ期乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结清扫术中保留肋间臂神经,能够有效地防止患侧腋窝及上臂皮肤感觉障碍,改善患者生活质量,具有较高的临床价值。     

乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴清扫术后上肢自我感觉症状分布特点及症状群研究

目的探讨乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴清扫术后上肢自我感觉症状以及症状群的分布特点,为症状管理提供指导。方法选取乳腺癌腋窝淋巴清扫术后患者343例为研究对象,采用自编的上肢自我感觉症状调查表对其进行调查。结果患者上肢存在多种症状,发生率最高的3个症状分别是紧缩感(62.39%)、僵硬感(59.48%)、麻木感(42.86%)。上肢疼痛感(47.94%)、压痛感(17.81%)在术后3个月内发生率最高,随着术后时间延长,发生率逐渐降低且差异有统计学意义(均P0.01);上肢紧缩感(79.10%)、麻木感(55.22%)、僵硬感(77.61%)、感觉迟钝(28.36%)、无力感(58.21%)在术后3~6个月发生率最高,其中紧缩感、麻木感、僵硬感、无力感4个症状随术后时间的延长,发生率逐渐降低且差异有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01);上肢沉重感(32.20%)、肿胀感(37.29%)在术后12~24个月发生率最高,术后不同时间段发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(均P0.05)。探索性因子分析得出4个症状群:因子1为瘢痕组织牵拉相关症状群(紧缩感、僵硬感);因子2为手术创伤相关症状群(疼痛感、压痛感、无力感);因子3为上肢淋巴水肿相关症状群(沉重感、肿胀感);因子4为肋间臂神经损伤相关症状群(感觉迟钝、麻木感)。结论乳腺癌患者腋窝淋巴清扫术后存在多个症状,且以群集现象存在。护理人员进行症状管理时根据症状分布和群集特点采取针对性的干预措施,以减轻患铡上肢不适感。     

Role of tranexamic acid in axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer patients

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) is an important step in the management of node‐positive operable breast cancer. It is associated with large amount of axillary drainage and increased risk of wound‐related infection. Tranexamic acid (TA) has antifibrinolytic property and is being extensively used in controlling blood loss. However, its role in reducing axillary drainage after ALND is still not well‐established. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of TA in reducing the axillary drainage, early removal of the drain, and decreasing the wound‐related infection in breast cancer patients undergoing ALND. This is a prospective nonrandomized double‐armed cohort study. Total of 47 patients were included in the TA group and 46 in the nontranexamic (NTA) group. All the patients in TA group received a single dose of intravenous (IV) TA at the time of induction followed by oral TA for five days after surgery. Both TA and NTA groups had similar proportions of locally advanced breast cancers (57.4% vs 56.5%, P = .90). Majority of them underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) (70.2% vs 67.4%, P = .76). Patients in TA group had significantly lower axillary drainage (440 ml vs 715.5 ml, P = .003) with earlier removal of the drain (8 vs 11 days, P = .046). Seroma formation (19.1% vs 32.6%, P = .13) and wound‐related infection (4.3% vs 8.7%, P = .43) were nonsignificantly lower in the TA group. Tranexamic acid reduces axillary drainage and facilitates early removal of the drain after axillary lymph node dissection.     

Internal mammary node involvement in patients with axilla-negative early breast cancer: a narrative review

Early breast cancer staging involves radiological and pathological evaluation of the tumour and regional lymph nodes. The internal mammary nodes (IMN) are an important site of possible metastasis and influence disease stage and prognosis. However, the recommendation for routine IMN assessment remains unclear. Internal mammary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is associated with increased morbidity and an unknown survival benefit. Furthermore, the IMN are traditionally thought to be involved only synchronous with, or following, axillary node (AXN) metastasis. The aim of this review is to determine the prevalence of IMN metastasis in patients with axilla-negative early breast cancer. A narrative review of studies assessing IMN metastasis was performed. The literature search was completed using the database Medline (Ovid). Twenty-two retrospective studies were identified. The studies included data from SLNB, US, MRI, PET/CT and opportunistic biopsy during free-flap reconstruction (FFR). The prevalence of isolated IMN metastasis ranged from 1.2% to 17.9%.     

Prediction of additional axillary metastasis of breast cancer following sentinel lymph node surgery

Sentinel lymphadenectomy is a sensitive and specific procedure that has reduced the need for complete axillary lymph node dissections in patients with negative sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). However, numerous studies have shown that SLN may be the only positive lymph node in 40 to 70% of cases. This study was therefore undertaken to determine if the characteristics of primary breast tumor or its metastasis in the SLN could predict the presence of residual disease in the nonsentinel lymph nodes (NSLNs) and thus allow for further reduction in axillary lymph node surgery. The SLN procedure was performed on 329 patients at our institution, of which 131 had positive SLNs and underwent further axillary surgery. Fifty-four patients had additional disease in the NSLNs, while in the remaining 77 cases, no residual disease was detected. The clinical and pathologic features of these cases were reviewed and statistical analysis was performed. Multivariate analysis determined two significant independent variables for prediction of residual disease in the axilla: the size of the metastatic tumor in SLNs and the presence of its extranodal extension. The mean tumor size in SLNs without residual disease in NSLNs was 0.4 cm. It was 1.1 cm in patients with additional NSLN metastasis. The positive predictive value in both instances is about 80%. The risk of NSLN involvement in patients with SLN tumors of < or = 0.4 cm was 21%. The risk was the same (21%) for patients with micrometastatic disease (< or = 0.2 cm) in SLNs. In these cases the residual disease in the NSLNs was also small. SLNs with metastatic deposits larger than 1.0 cm were likely to contain additional metastases in the NSLNs in 81% of cases. This increased to 100% if the primary carcinoma was larger than 5 cm, if it was poorly differentiated, or if it showed HER-2/neu gene amplification. The presence of an extranodal extension of SLN metastasis was an independent predictor of residual axillary disease and was associated with NSLN metastasis in 76% of cases. Primary tumor characteristics did not correlate with the incidence of NSLN metastasis in our series.     

The presentation of contralateral axillary lymph node metastases from breast carcinoma: a clinical management dilemma

Metastases to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients are uncommon. Involvement of the contralateral axilla is a manifestation of systemic disease (stage IV) or a regional metastasis from a new occult primary (T0N1, stage II). The uncertain laterality of the cancer responsible for these metastases complicates overall disease staging and is a management dilemma for clinicians. Seven women who developed contralateral axillary metastases (CAM), but did not have evidence of systemic disease were identified. Patient demographics, histopathologic tumor characteristics, treatment and outcome were examined. The median age was 49 years. A family history of breast cancer was present in six (86%). The initial breast cancers were located in all quadrants. They were generally hormone receptor negative, HER-2/neu overexpressing and associated with lymphovascular invasion. There was a median interval of 71 months between initial breast cancer diagnosis and CAM presentation. Surgical management of the CAM included simple excision in one (14%) and axillary lymph node dissection in five (71%). Adjuvant treatment consisted of chemotherapy in seven (100%) and hormonal therapy in one (14%). The median follow-up from the diagnosis of CAM was 35 months and three women were alive without disease, two were alive with disease and two had died of disease. With surgical treatment, there were no axillary recurrences in this series. When patients present with CAM and no evidence of systemic disease or a new primary in the contralateral breast, surgical treatment should be considered for local control and possibly improved relapse-free survival.     

An axillary recurrence of breast cancer following a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy

Abstract: In many parts of the United States, lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node biopsy has almost replaced axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) as the axillary staging procedure of choice for small, clinically node-negative breast cancers. However, the long-term outcome of patients undergoing a sentinel lymph node biopsy as the only axillary procedure in patients with tumor-free sentinel nodes remains to be determined. We present the first reported case of axillary recurrence in a patient with breast cancer following a tumor-negative sentinel lymph node biopsy. Whether sentinel lymph node biopsy can replace ALND in the management of patients with early breast cancer remains to be answered.     

The case for the omission of axillary staging in invasive breast carcinoma that exhibits a predominant tubular growth pattern on preoperative biopsy

True invasive tubular breast carcinoma (TBC) is unlikely to metastasize to axillary nodes, yet it is routinely subjected to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB), even if the diagnosis was suspected preoperatively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of core biopsy for TBC and the incidence and predictors of axillary metastasis in invasive breast carcinomas identified as tubular‐rich on core biopsy are unknown. Prospective patient and tumor data regarding postoperatively confirmed TBCs, and tubular‐rich carcinoma identified on preoperative core biopsy between January 2005 and May 2016 was analyzed retrospectively. Axillary metastasis occurred in only 4.2% (4/95) of TBCs, all of which measured >15 mm pathologically. In 11.1% (11/99) of TBCs, the initial core biopsy was either indeterminate/suspicious or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS); therefore, their true tubular histotype and size were ascertained following operative excision and before SLNB. Nine were ≤15 mm, and all were node‐negative. Only 63.9% (46/72) of tubular‐rich core biopsies were confirmed as TBCs; the remaining 36.1% (26/72) were well‐differentiated invasive nontubular carcinomas. None of the preoperative patient or tumor features were predictive of true TBC on multivariable analysis; 10.1% (7/69) of carcinomas identified as tubular‐rich on core biopsy (regardless of their true histotypes) were node‐positive; 23.1% (6/26) in nontubular and 2.3% (1/43) in true tubular carcinomas. Preoperative ultrasound size >15 mm was associated with axillary metastasis in 40.0% (4/10) compared to 5.7% (3/53) in those ≤15 mm (OR = 11.11, 95% CI = 1.99‐62.04; multivariable P = .010). Axillary metastasis in TBC is dependent on pathological size; therefore, a case is made for omitting SLNB in small true TBCs confirmed following excision. Preoperative tubular‐rich core biopsy is not adequately diagnostic of TBC; however, it selects carcinomas that are well‐differentiated, small, and unlikely to metastasize to the axilla, thus allowing for the selective omission of SLNB.     

数字化钼靶检查在判断乳腺癌腋窝淋巴结转移中的价值探讨

目的探讨全数字化钼靶X线摄影在判断乳腺癌有无腋窝淋巴结转移方面的价值。方法收集经术后病理证实的乳腺癌患者260例和门诊乳腺增生患者110例,全部病例均有数字化钼靶摄影。综合分析腋窝淋巴结在钼靶X线摄影上的特点。结果乳腺增生的钼靶片显示,腋窝淋巴结数目及大小不一,边界清楚,形态多样,以类圆形多见,密度大多不均质,淋巴结外腋窝组织清晰;乳腺癌钼靶片显示,腋窝淋巴结可疑阳性者,其数目和大小与乳腺增生相比无特异性,但密度多较均质,以椭圆形或圆形多见,边界不清,淋巴结周围组织紊乱;而淋巴结阴性者,其密度多不均匀,呈现中心密度低,周边密度高的壳状。结论术前通过对钼靶影像腋窝淋巴结的密度、边界、形态及周围组织结构的比较分析,可以初步了解腋窝淋巴结有无转移,有助于对乳腺癌患者的整体了解和选择治疗方案。     

Axillary Ultrasound in the Management of the Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patient

Axillary lymph node status remains an important prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer. Axillary ultrasound (AUS) is an important tool in the workup of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and also has an emerging role evaluating the axilla after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This review discusses the value of AUS in the workup and management of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and describes its role given the recent changes in axillary management.