
Simple Mastectomy and axillary Node Sampling (Pectoral Node Biopsy) in the Management of Primary Breast Cancer
Author(s) -
A. P. M. Forrest,
Helen Stewart,
M M Roberts,
R. J. C. Steele
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
annals of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.153
H-Index - 309
eISSN - 1528-1140
pISSN - 0003-4932
DOI - 10.1097/00000658-198209000-00017
Subject(s) - medicine , mastectomy , breast cancer , biopsy , node (physics) , axilla , sampling (signal processing) , sentinel node , axillary nodes , oncology , cancer , radiology , telecommunications , computer science , structural engineering , detector , engineering
Axillary node sampling was introduced as a means of defining those patients whose primary breast cancer was treated by simple mastectomy in whom postoperative radiotherapy could be avoided safely. The authors have initiated controlled randomized trials in Cardiff and Edinburgh which have indicated that, provided that nodes are identified for histologic examination, simple mastectomy, node sampling, and selective radiotherapy give equal survival rates to routine radical treatment, whether this is by surgery or radiotherapy. Provided sampling of nodes is adequate and histologically proven, locoregional control also is satisfactory. A current randomized trial comparing this policy with Patey mastectomy has allowed comparative studies of axillary node status. These and follow-up data indicate that for a valid assessment, three to four nodes should be identified by the surgeon for histologic examination, the false negative rate being less than 10%.