Prognostic significance of further axillary dissection in breast cancer patients with micrometastases & the number of micrometastases: a SEER population-based analysis.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate the benefits of axillary dissection in patients with micrometastases. METHODS: A review of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was performed from 2004 to 2013. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox regression models, and propensity score matching were utilized to comprehensively evaluate the cohort. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis after propensity score matching showed that patients with one to two micrometastases did not substantially benefit from axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.725). However, a subgroup analysis indicated that axillary dissection may benefit estrogen receptor-negative patients. Moreover, patients who carried three micrometastases had a significantly lower crude hazard ratio in breast cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph node dissection may have advantages in high-risk micrometastatic patients. Patients with three micrometastases should be treated with caution.