Breast cancer patients with pN0(i+) and pN1(mi) sentinel nodes have high rate of nonsentinel node metastases

Abstract

These findings indicate that frequency of nonsentinel node metastases with sentinel node metastases <or= 0.2 mm is comparable to the frequency when sentinel metastases are > 0.2 to 2 mm. Omitting complete axillary dissection in pN1(mi) and pN0(i+) patients may leave residual disease in up to 20% of these patients.