Comparison of different predictive tools of axillary status in breast cancer with micrometastatic sentinel node

To compare the performance of six different nomograms and one score in the prediction of non-sentinel lymph node status in a subset of women with breast cancer and micrometastatic sentinel nodes (SN).

Twenty-five patients were included in the study. Five different nomograms not specifically designed for micrometastatic SN, one recently published nomogram specially developed for this type of patients and one score were analyzed, and the corresponding receiver operating characteristic curves were obtained. The area under the curve (AUC) was calculated, as well as the false negative and false positive results and their corresponding rates (FNR and FPR) for a cutoff of ≤10% or ≤4 points.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) nomogram showed the best performance in this low-risk group of patients (AUC 0.900, FPR 64%, FNR 0%), followed by the French nomogram.

The MSKCC nomogram seems to have the highest accuracy in the identification of patients with low risk of further axillary disease in the subgroup of women with micrometastatic SN.