Assessing the Burden of Nodal Disease for Breast Cancer Patients with Clinically Positive Nodes: Hope for More Limited Axillary Surgery.
Stephanie AngaritaLinda YeDennis RüngerJoseph HadayaJennifer L BakerNicole DawsonCarlie K ThompsonMinna K LeeDeanna J AttaiMaggie L DiNomePublished in: Annals of surgical oncology (2020)
More than 40% of breast cancer patients with clinically positive nodes had minimal nodal disease (pN1) at surgery. Additionally, palpable nodes on exam did not predict higher nodal stage. A subset of patients with clinically positive nodes may be identified who can potentially be spared the morbidity of ALND.