[Clinical significance of sentinel lymph node micrometastases in invasive breast carcinoma]

Axillary lymph node status is one of the most important prognostic factors in patients with invasive breast carcinoma. Sentinel lymph node biopsy leads to more accurate examination of the lymph nodes and has resulted in an increased detection rate of small cancer deposits. Patients with micrometastatic foci can have nonsentinel lymph node involvement, including macrometastatic foci. Sentinel lymph node micrometastases are associated with an adverse impact on disease recurrence or survival. Axillary clearance offers no advantage in reducing the incidence of disease recurrence and survival. However, the long-term outcomes can be improved with the use of adjuvant systemic therapy, and it would be reasonable to consider systemic treatment in these patients.