Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the minimum number of lymph nodes that confidently represents the complete axilla in an axillary dissection. Methods: The medical records of 411 patients vvith early breast cancer treated betvveen October 1999 andAugust 2002 were evaluated retrospectively. Total number of axillary lymph nodes removed, number of metastatic nodes, tumoursize, grade, and presence of lymphovascular invasion were revievved. Results: Axillary node metastases were detected in 60% of patients. The mean number of nodes collected was 20.2±0.4, vvith a mean of 3.6 ± 0.3 metastatic nodes. There was a significant difference in terms of the rate of metastatic nodes betvveen the patients vvith 6-15 nodes removed and those vvith 16 or more removed, 45% and 78%, respectively. The highest rate of metastatic nodes was determined in patients vvith 16-20 nodes removed (68%). The rate of axillary metastasis was not higher in group vvith more than 20 nodes removed. Conclusions: Although it is generaiiy considered that minimum 10 lymph nodes should be removed in an axillary dissectin to confidently determine the patients vvith breast cancer who had negative axiiiary node status, according to the results of this study, hovvever, it might be stated that the number of lymph nodes collected should be minimum 16.