Prognostic Implications of Isolated Tumor Cells and Micrometastases in Sentinel Nodes of Patients with Invasive Breast Cancer: 10-Year Analysis of Patients Enrolled in the Prospective East Carolina University/Anne Arundel Medical Center Sentinel Node Multicenter Study

Abstract

This prospective breast cancer study found that sentinel node MIC, but not ITCs, were associated with additional positive nodes and with distant recurrence. These data suggest that ALND may be unnecessary in patients with ITCs. But ALND and more aggressive adjuvant therapy should be considered in patients with SLN micrometastases.