Abstract P1-01-31: Axillary Recurrence Rate Is Associated with Sentinel Lymph Node Pathology Protocol

Background Internationally, there is no consensus on the pathology protocol to be used to examine the sentinel lymph node (SN). At present, therefore, various hospitals use different SN pathology protocols, leading to different SN findings and subsequent surgical treatment strategies. Previously, we reported in a prospective registry study of 4 hospitals in the Netherlands, that ultra-staging led to more axillary lymph node dissections (ALND) (Bolster et al. Ann Surg Oncol 2006). This present study reports follow-up data of the patients who had a negative SN, so patients who did not undergo an additional ALND. The question was, whether ultra-staging and thus fewer patients not undergoing an additional ALND, is effective in that it reduces the risk of relapse. Patients and Methods Patients from 4 hospitals (A, B, C, and D) were prospectively registered when they underwent a SN biopsy because of a cytological or histological proven invasive breast cancer. In hospitals A, B, and C, 3 levels of the SN were examined pathologically, whereas in hospital D at least 7 additional levels were examined. In the absence of apparent metastases with HE70(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-01-31.