Axillary lymph node dissection vs sentinel biopsy only among women with early-stage breast cancer and sentinel node metastasis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in early-stage breast cancer with limited sentinel node metastasis may not be superior to sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND). We performed a meta-analysis comparing SLND/Radiotherapy (RT) with ALND. All data were analyzed using Review Manager Software 5.3. Five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Overall survival, death, and disease-free survival were estimated higher in the SLND group compared to the ALND group. Statistically significant differences in axillary recurrence were observed in favor of ALND. Omission of ALND in patients with <3 positive SLNs is indicated.