[NOMOGRAM AS A PROGNOSTIC TOOL FOR LYMPH NODE METASTASIS IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER].

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Pathology
• Biostatistics

Context:

• Breast cancer management involves assessing axillary lymph node status.
• Accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis is crucial for treatment planning.
• Current methods may not fully capture all predictive factors.

Purpose:

• To develop and validate a predictive nomogram for lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.
• To identify significant clinicopathological predictors of lymph node involvement.
• To provide a tool for risk stratification in breast cancer management.

Summary:

• Retrospective analysis of 529 breast cancer patients identified key predictors of axillary lymph node metastasis.
• Significant independent predictors include tumor size, histological grade, lymphovascular invasion, HER2-status, and malignancy score.
• A novel graphic nomogram was developed using regression analysis, achieving an area under the ROC curve of 0.737, indicating high predictive accuracy.

Impact:

• The developed nomogram serves as a valuable tool for clinicians in planning appropriate axillary surgery for breast cancer patients.
• Improved risk assessment can lead to more tailored treatment strategies and potentially better patient outcomes.
• This tool can aid in reducing unnecessary surgical interventions and optimizing patient management.