Correlation of Histopathological Characteristics of Nodal Metastasis with Clinicopathologica Features and Survival in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Involvement of lymph nodes is a significant predictive marker in breast cancer, impacting both patient results and therapy strategies. It is crucial to comprehend the pathological alterations in lymph nodes that are linked to breast carcinoma in order to maximize care for patients.Objective: This study aimed to examine histopathological changes in lymph nodes related to breast cancer and their clinical implications.Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was conducted from the time duration of 21st November 2022 to 24th April 2023 involving 100 diagnosed breast cancer patients who underwent lymph node dissection. Patient data, including demographics, clinical history, five-year survival rates, and histopathological findings, were collected from medical records. Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were used to analyze the data.Results: In a study of breast cancer patients, 60% had macrometastases and 45% had extracapsular extension, indicating aggressive disease. Micrometastases were observed in 30%. Patients with lymph node metastases had poorer outcomes, with lower 5-year survival rates (60%) and higher recurrence rates (35%) compared to those without lymph node involvement (85% and 15%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed lymph node involvement as a key prognostic factor (hazard ratio 2.5), while larger tumor size and higher histological grade also predicted worse outcomes. Subgroup analysis revealed that isolated tumor cells had the highest 5-year survival rate (75%), while micrometastases and macrometastases had lower rates of 65% and 55%, respectively.Conclusion: The presence of histopathological alterations in the lymph nodes associated to breast cancer is important for predicting outcomes and treatment plans. The number of affected lymph nodes can determine the survival rates of patients, which underlines the importance of proper lymph node assessment for breast cancer treatment.Keywords: Breast cancer, Histopathology, Lymph node involvement, Prognosis, Treatment.