Internal mammary lymph nodes status in breast cancer patients in the sentinel lymph node biopsy era

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 30 female patients with operable breast carcinoma, to determine the incidence of internal mammary lymph nodes [IMN] involvement and its correlations. All patients were submitted to modified radical mastectomy with axillary clearance and internal mammary lymph nodes [IMN] biopsy. IMN involvement by malignant cells was positive in 20% of the patients. Cases with inner breast half carcinoma had 50% incidence of IMN metastasis. Also cases with tumor size larger than 5cm had 66.7% incidence of IMIN metastasis. IMN involvement increased as the level of involvement of axillary lymph nodes increased. The results of the study emphasize the need for carrying out a sentinel IMAT biopsy especially from the first and second intercostal spaces in the cases with positive correlation as regards size of the tumor, its location and axillary lymph nodes status. This will provide additional prognostic information which might be of help to guide the administration of adjuvant therapy