Changes of axillary lymph node status in breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy / 中国微创外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on axillary lymph node status in patients with breast cancer.Methods A total of 45 patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ breast cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery(Combination Group) were compared with 79 patients with breast cancer treated with initial surgery only(Surgery Group) in respect of axillary lymph node status,including the total number of the lymph nodes and the number of positive and negative lymph nodes,according to findings of physical examination,B-ultrasonography,and molybdenum target radiography.Results The total number of the lymph nodes and the number of positive lymph nodes were significantly less in the Combination Group(16.9?5.9 and 2.5?2.2) than in the Surgery Group(20.8?8.0 and 3.9?3.0)(t=-2.856,P=0.005;t=2.790,P=0.006),whereas the number of negative lymph nodes were 14.4?5.4 and 16.7?7.0 in the Combination Group and the Surgery Group,respectively,without statistical significance(t=-1.904,P=0.055).Four patients were found loco-regional relapse in each group during follow-up checkups for 6~19 months(mean,10 months) in 40 patients in the Combination Group and 7~21 months(mean,12 months) in 67 patients in the Surgery Group.Conclusions Total and positive axillary lymph nodes retrieved after axillary lymph node dissection decrease in number after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.