Merdan Fayda
Istanbul University, Turkey
Title: Is Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Enough for Axillary Macrometastasis?
Biography
Biography: Merdan Fayda
Abstract
Although omission of further treatment to axilla inclinical N0 T1-2 breast cancer patients with conserved breast and positive micrometastatic 1-2 sentinel lymph node(s) is relatively well established, optimal management of the axilla in macrometastatic disease is controversial. Z0011 (micro- and macromets), International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) 23-01 (micromets), and AMAROS (micro- and macromets)are randomized trialstry to determine best management. According to Z0011 axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) isn’t necessary and sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) could be the appropriate choice.IBCSG 23-01not only further strengths this idea for the micrometastatic cases but also shows that quality of life could be improved with SLND. In Saint Gallen consensus report 2013, 73%of the experts state that avoiding full axillaryclearance after 1-2 positive sentinel nodes is endorsed in situationsofconservative surgery and radiotherapy (RT).AMAROS announced at ASC0 2013 Meeting and showedthat both axillary RT and ALND were equally effective but less lymphedema with axillary RT.Although Z0011 changes the practice, details of radiotherapy fields have recently been announced at the San Antonio 2013 Meeting. In review of patients with evaluable detailed radiotherapy records, roughly 70% of them receivedsome form of lymphatic RT.Omission of further treatment to axilla with macrometastatic sentinel lymph node isn’t appropriate and either ALND or axillary RT can be an effective optiontreating patients but with less lymphedema in RT arm.It’s still not clear whether these suggestions could be applicable to the patients treated with mastectomy.