Axillary Recurrence After a Negative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (SLNB) for Initial Positive Node Breast Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Oncology
• Breast Cancer Research

Background:

• Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is standard for axillary staging in node-negative breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant therapy.
• The incidence and significance of axillary recurrence (AR) following a negative SLNB require further investigation.
• Understanding AR rates is crucial for refining breast cancer treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the incidence of axillary recurrence (AR) after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in breast cancer patients.
• To assess the clinical significance and reliability of SLNB in staging the axilla postneoadjuvant therapy.
• To provide evidence-based insights for optimizing treatment decisions in breast cancer management.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar.
• Pooled incidence of AR calculated using a random-effects model.
• Heterogeneity assessed with I-squared and Q-statistics; publication bias evaluated using funnel plots and Egger's test.

Main Results:

• 37 studies included in the meta-analysis.
• Pooled incidence of axillary recurrence (AR) was remarkably low at 1% (95% CI: [0.0%, 1.0%]).
• No significant heterogeneity (I-squared = 0%, p = 0.95) or publication bias (Egger's test, p = 0.5436) was detected.

Conclusions:

• Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a reliable method for axillary staging in breast cancer patients postneoadjuvant therapy.
• Axillary recurrence (AR) is rare after a negative SLNB, supporting its continued use in clinical practice.
• These findings reinforce the importance of SLNB in guiding treatment decisions for breast cancer patients.