Medical sciences
Does the Number of Harvested Sentinel Lymph Nodes Matter in Breast Cancer Patients with Limited Nodal Burden? A Descriptive Cohort Study
By Lim GH, Htein MMW, Wong FY and 2 others.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: In breast cancer patients with limited nodal burden, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone, without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND), has shown non-inferior survival. However, it remains unclear how many SLNs should be harvested. We aimed to determine if the number of harvested SLNs and the use of a single agent for SLNB localisation affect the detection of residual metastatic nodes. We also described the oncological outcome of SLNB alone as an exploratory clinical outcome.
Methods
From 1 January 2020 to 31 January 2026, T1-2 patients and 1-2 metastatic SLNs who underwent SLNB only or with completion ALND were analysed. The number of SLNs harvested and the use of single or dual agents for localisation of SLNs were analysed in the ALND group to determine if it affected the detection of residual metastatic nodes. Data on oncological outcomes were reported.