P071. Axillary lymph node surgery in breast cancer patients: Yield of lymph node metastases at initial axillary surgery and subsequent axillary clearance

Abstract

Introduction: In our Trust, all breast cancers undergo pre-operative axillary staging with ultrasound and, where appropriate, needle biopsy. This triages patients to sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or more invasive axillary node clearance (ANC). Where SLNB demonstrates node metastasis, patients may require a second surgical procedure (ANC) or axillary radiotherapy, both associated with additional patient morbidity. We present an audit of our practice, particularly the yield of positive nodes at SLNB, ANC, and subsequent ANC, performed after a positive SLNB.