Research progress of internal mammary lymph node in breast cancer / 肿瘤研究与临床

ABSTRACT

The metastases status of internal mammary lymph node(IMLN) is an independent prognostic factor for breast cancer and it also is an important reference for neoplasm staging.The patients with IMLN metastases consistently have worse outcomes.The overall risk of IMLN metastases is 18 ％-33 ％.Metastases exclusively situated in the IMLN,without concurrent axillary metastases,occur in 2 ％-11％ of patients.Factors related to IMLN metastases include the status of axillary node,the age of patients,the localization and characteristics of primary tumor.Recently,with the development of sentinel lymph node biopsy(SLNB), internal mammary-SLNB may access the status of IMLN with a minimal risk. Internal mammary-SLNB procedure can improve the system for nodal staging of breast cancer,and it will contribute to the individualized treatment for breast cancer patients.