ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the extent of axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer patients with positive sentinel lymph nodes.Methods In this series,95 patients underwent complete axillary lymph node dissection (CALND) following positive sentinel lymph nodes identified and 97 patients underwent partial axillary lymph node dissection (PALND) at the absence of positive sentinel lymph nodes.The influence of different extent of axillary lymph node dissection was evaluated.Results The positive rate of level(Ⅰ + Ⅱ) non-sentinel lymph nodes (NSLN) and level Ⅲ lymph nodes was 68.4％ and 29.5％,respectively,in CALND group.In PALND situation,57.9％ CALND cases would have changed pathologic stage from pN1 to pN2 or pN3.But with level Ⅲ lymph node dissection followed PALND,only 2.1％ cases had changed pathologic stage from pN2 to pN3.Multivariate logistic regression showed that the number of positive SLNs (OR =2.157) and positive rate of SLNs (OR =10.374) were risk factors for having positive level Ⅲ lymph nodes.CALND needed longer operation time and larger postoperative drainage volume.Conclusions In cases of breast cancer with ≥ 3 positive sentinel lymph nodes,complete axillary lymph node dissection should be considered.