PREDICTORS OF AXILLARY LYMPH-NODE METASTASES IN PATIENTS WITH IMPALPABLE BREAST-CANCER

To define a subgroup of patients in whom axillary lymph node dissectio n could be omitted, 111 patients with an impalpable invasive breast ca rcinoma were studied. The records of these patients were reviewed for pathological axillary lymph node status, age, menopausal status, clini cal nodal status, findings on mammography and tumour characteristics s uch as tumour size, tumour grade, mitotic activity index, receptor sta tus, and lymphatic and blood vessel invasion. Twenty-two per cent of t he patients had lymph node metastases. Age and tumour size were signif icantly correlated to pathological nodal status.