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Reappraisal of internal mammary node metastases as a prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer
Author(s) -
Noguchi Masakuni,
Ohta Nagayoshi,
Koyasaki Naohiro,
Taniya Takao,
Miyazaki Itsuo,
Mizukami Yuji
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19911101)68:9<1918::aid-cncr2820680913>3.0.co;2-l
Subject(s) - medicine , breast cancer , lymph node , oncology , mammary gland , axilla , lymph , univariate analysis , axillary lymph node dissection , axillary lymph nodes , cancer , pathology , sentinel lymph node , multivariate analysis
Clinical, histologic, and biologic prognostic factors were examined in 144 patients with invasive breast cancer. It was determined whether variable prognostic factors, especially internal mammary lymph node metastases, would serve as a basis for the prognosis of breast cancer. In a univariate study, overall survival was significantly correlated with tumor size, axillary lymph node status, axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases, and DNA ploidy status. Especially among patients with one to three positive axillary nodes, survival in case of internal mammary involvement were significantly lower than without internal mammary involvement. In a multivariate study, only axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases were recognized as important, independent prognostic factors of survival, but neither axillary lymph node status nor DNA ploidy status appeared as important prognostic factors. It was concluded that internal mammary lymph node metastases is additional prognostic factor, especially in patients with one to three positive axillary nodes. Because axillary and internal mammary lymph node metastases could not be predicted from their clinical assessment, axillary lymph node dissection and biopsy of internal mammary nodes may be a useful staging procedure for these patients.