Scrutiny of extent of axillary node dissection for patients with primary breast cancer

ABSTRACT

Background: Carcinoma of the breast is the most common of non-skin malignancies in women and is second to lung cancer is a cause of cancer deaths. A woman who lives to age 90 has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. It is as ironic and tragic that a neoplasm arising in an exposed organ, readily accessible to self-examination and clinical surveillance, continues to exact such a heavy toll. The aim of the study To determine, if differences in the extent of axillary node dissection would alter the number of reported positive nodes, to emphasize the presence and importance of dissecting the inter pectoral node (Rotter’s Node) in Modified Radical Mastectomy. Materials and methods: This study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Government Stanley Medical College, Chennai in 2018. Patients were evaluated according to NCCN guidelines and were subjected to Modified Radical Mastectomy for whomsoever it was needed. 32 cases underwent Modified Radical Mastectomy with complete axillary dissection (level I/II/III and inter pectoral node) according to the identical procedure. The dissection was carried out in all patients, irrespective of whether they had palpable nodes or not clinically. Results: An average of 13 lymph nodes was examined per case (range 8−20). Axillary lymph node involvement was found in 56% of the cases (18/32). Of the 18 cases, 83% (n = 15) had involvement of level I/II nodes only, and 16% (n = 3) had positive ALN in levels III and, or, inter pectoral nodes, in addition to the level I/II. Involvement of lymph nodes in level III and inter pectoral nodes without a level I metastasis was not found. By the inclusion of level III to a level I/II dissection, two cases (11%) was converted from one to three positive nodes (pN1) to ≥4 positive nodes (pN2). Involvement Rosy Adhaline Selvi, Manimegalai. Scrutiny of extent of axillary node dissection for patients with primary breast cancer. IAIM, 2019; 6(3) 212-216. Page 213 of lymph nodes in level III was found in 3 cases (16%) 10/32 cases (31%) had ≥4 positive nodes who required adjuvant therapy. Conclusion: Variations in the level of axillary node dissection for breast cancer which includes the inter pectoral and level III nodes can result in significant changes in the number of positive axillary nodes stepping up the pathologic nodal status from pN1 to pN2. This can potentially bias adjuvant therapy recommendations if treatment decisions are based on this prognostic factor.