Analysis of clinical characteristics and influecing factors of interpectoral lymph nodes metastasis in modified radical mastectomy of breast cancer

Abstract

Objective To analyze the occurrence rate, positive rate, and other related factors influencing interpectoral lymph nodes in breast cancer patients, and to explore the significance and indications of the surgical dissection of interpectoral lympy nodes. Methods Clinical and pathological data from 148 breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were subjected to modified radical mastectomy, and interpectoral lympy nodes were pathologically examined. The occurrence rate and metastasis of interpectoral lympy nodes were recorded, and the relationship between the interpectoral lympy nodes positive rate and tumor size, axillary nodes, clinical stages, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, hormone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (Her-2) expression, and molecular subtypes of breast cancer were determined. Results The occurrence rate, overall metastasis rate, and the positive rate of interpectoral lympy nodes in patients with axillary lymph node metastasis were 13.5%(20/148), 4.7%(7/148), and 10.9% (7/64), respectively. I nterpectoral lympy nodes metastasis was significantly correlated with axillary node metastasis and clinical stages (P 0.05). Interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis rate was not affected by neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis were characterized by larger tumors, more positive axillary lymph nodes, and later clinical stages. Conclusions Interpectoral lympy nodes metastasis usually occurs in patients with larger tumors, more positive axillary lymph nodes, later clinical stages, as well as those with locally advanced cancer that meets the standard of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. These indications suggest that the surgical dissection and pathological examination of interpectoral lymph nodes should be routinely performed. Key words: Breast neoplasms; Mastectomy, modified radical; Interpectoral lymph node; Influencing factors