[A case of breast cancer with postoperative metastasis to the supraclavicular lymph nodes-recurrence-free survival achieved by surgical excision following chemotherapy].

Abstract The patient, a 58-year-old woman, underwent a partial excision of the right breast and an axillary lymph node dissection in October 2004. The histopathological findings were: solid tubular carcinoma with metastasis to 17 axillary lymph nodes; triple negative-type breast cancer. As adjuvant therapy, FEC60 was administered 6 times, followed by radiotherapy applied to the residual breast and the right supraclavicular fossa. In Novermber 2007, she noted a tumorous growth above the right clavicle. The pathological diagnosis via fine needle biopsy was adenocarcinoma. An oral antineoplastic agent was given for about 6 months, but did not alter the lymph nodes. No distant recurrence was noted during this time. In August 2008, the right supraclavicular lymph nodes were dissected. The patient has been under observation without treatment, but no signs of recurrence have been noted. It was thought that excision of the recurrent supra-clavicular lymph nodes should be considered after careful examination in some individual cases.