The importance of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer patients
Summary
Axillary node status is the most important prognostic information regarding treatment and prognosis for breast cancer patients. Localisation and number of involved lymphnodes add further information and are of prognostic relevance as well. The problem of the involvement of different axilla levels as well as skip metastases are discussed. Sentinel lymphnode dissection is still considered investigational as well as axilla downstaging by preoperative chemotherapy. New prognostic markers are helpful in individual situations but are not yet considered as standard procedures. Conclusions of practical relevance are summarised.
Zusammenfassung
In dieser Übersichtsarbeit wird die Bedeutung des Befalls axillärer Lymphknoten beim Mammakarzinom dargelegt. Die Frage der Lokalisation, der Anzahl befallener Lymphknoten, das Problem der Skip-Metastasierung ebenso wie die „Sentinel”-Lymphknotendissektion werden bezüglich prognostischer und therapierelevanter Information diskutiert. Downstaging durch präoperative Chemotherapie ebenso wie der Einsatz neuer prognostischer Marker sind noch nicht standardmäßig etabliert. Es werden allgemeine Empfehlungen für die klinische Praxis formuliert.
Key words
Breast - cancer - axillary - lymph nodes
Schlüsselwörter
Mammakarzinom - Lymphknoten - Axilla
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Prof. Dr. T. Cerny
Fachbereich Onkologie/Hämatologie
Kantonsspital St. Gallen
CH-9007 St. Gallen
Phone: Tel.: +41-71/4 94 10 62
Fax: Fax: +41-71/4 94 28 78
Email: e-mail: thomas.cerny@kssg.ch
