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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Single-port Non-liposuction Endoscopic Axillary Lymph Node Dissection in Breast Cancer Surgery
Published on: April 3, 2026
Solitary positive sentinel lymph node accompanied by negative sentinel lymph node(s) is predictive of a negative
Weesam Alkhatib1, Carol Connor, Fan Fang
1Department of Surgery, University of Kansas Medical Center, 4960 Murphy Administration Building, Mail Stop 2005, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. walkhatib@kumc.edu <walkhatib@kumc.edu>
Background:
Many patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SLN) have a negative axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). We hypothesized that a solitary positive SLN associated with at least 1 negative SLN is predictive of a negative completion ALND. Omission of ALND may be possible in these patients.
Methods:
A retrospective review of 392 consecutive patients who underwent SLNB was performed. The 78 (20%) SLN-positive patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1: solitary positive SLN associated with at least 1 negative SLN; group 2: more than 1 positive SLN with at least 1 negative SLN; group 3: solitary positive SLN with no additional SLNs; and group 4: more than 1 positive SLN and all SLNs positive.
Results:
Excluding extracapsular extension, only 3% of group 1 patients had a positive ALND. Positive ALND was found in 15% of group 2, 29% of group 3, and 77% of group 4.
Conclusions:
A solitary positive SLN accompanied by additional negative SLN(s) is predictive of a negative completion ALND.
