Ratio between positive lymph nodes and total excised axillary lymph nodes as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with nonmetastatic lymph node-positive breast cancer

Radiomics features may contribute to increased diagnostic performance of MRI in the prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis. The objective of the study was to predict preoperative axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer using clinical models and radiomics models based on T2-weighted (T2W) dedicated axillary MRI features with node-by-node analysis. From August 2012 until October 2014, all women who had undergone dedicated axillary 3.0T T2W MRI, followed by axillary surgery, were retrospectively identified, and available clinical data were collected. All axillary lymph nodes were manually delineated on the T2W MR images, and quantitative radiomics features were extracted from the delineated regions. Data were partitioned patient-wise to train 100 models using different splits for the training and validation cohorts to account for multiple lymph nodes per patient and class imbalance. Features were selected in the training cohorts using recursive feature elimination with repeated 5-fold cross-validation, followed by the development of random forest models. The performance of the models was assessed using the area under the curve (AUC). A total of 75 women (median age, 61 years; interquartile range, 51–68 years) with 511 axillary lymph nodes were included. On final pathology, 36 (7%) of the lymph nodes had metastasis. A total of 105 original radiomics features were extracted from the T2W MR images. Each cohort split resulted in a different number of lymph nodes in the training cohorts and a different set of selected features. Performance of the 100 clinical and radiomics models showed a wide range of AUC values between 0.41–0.74 and 0.48–0.89 in the training cohorts, respectively, and between 0.30–0.98 and 0.37–0.99 in the validation cohorts, respectively. With these results, it was not possible to obtain a final prediction model. Clinical characteristics and dedicated axillary MRI-based radiomics with node-by-node analysis did not contribute to the prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer based on data where variations in acquisition and reconstruction parameters were not addressed.

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The Findings of SPECT/CT Concerning Bypass Lymph Circulation in Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Surgery

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare9040471 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 471

Author(s):

Min Young Lee ◽

Eunjung Kong ◽

Dong Gyu Lee

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Lymph Node ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Lymphatic Drainage ◽

Cancer Surgery ◽

Breast Cancer Surgery ◽

Axillary Lymph Nodes ◽

Axillary Lymph ◽

Node Dissection ◽

Positive Group

This study aimed to determine whether bypass circulation was present in lymphedema and its effect. This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study. Patients who underwent unilateral breast cancer surgery with axillary lymph node dissection were recruited and underwent single-photon emission tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT). SPECT/CT was performed to detect the three-dimensional locations of radio-activated lymph nodes. Patients with radioactivity in anatomical locations other than axillary lymph nodes were classified into a positive group. All patients received complete decongestive therapy (CDT). Exclusion criteria were as follows: History of bilateral breast cancer surgery, cervical lymph node dissection history, and upper extremity amputation. The difference in the upper extremity circumference (cm) was measured at four points: Mid-point of the upper arm, elbow, and 10 and 15 cm below the elbow. Twenty-nine patients were included in this study. Fifteen patients (51.7%) had bypass lymphatic systems on the affected side, six (20.7%) had a bypass lymphatic system with axillary lymph nodes on the unaffected side, and 11 (37.9%) showed new lymphatic drainage. The positive group showed significantly less swelling than the negative group at the mid-arm, elbow, and 15 cm below the elbow. Bypass lymphatic circulation had two patterns: Infraclavicular lymph nodes and supraclavicular and/or cervical lymph nodes. Changes in lymph drainage caused by surgery triggered the activation of the superficial lymphatic drainage system to relieve lymphedema. Superficial lymphatic drainage has a connection through the deltopectoral groove.

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Fat-enlarged axillary lymph nodes are associated with node-positive breast cancer in obese patients

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment ◽

10.1007/s10549-021-06262-z ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roberta M. diFlorio-Alexander ◽

Qingyuan Song ◽

Dennis Dwan ◽

Judith A. Austin-Strohbehn ◽

Kristen E. Muller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Invasive Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Mri ◽

Axillary Lymph Nodes ◽

Axillary Lymph ◽

Obese Women ◽

Axillary Metastases ◽

Node Positive ◽

Positive Breast Cancer

Abstract Purpose Obesity associated fat infiltration of organ systems is accompanied by organ dysfunction and poor cancer outcomes. Obese women demonstrate variable degrees of fat infiltration of axillary lymph nodes (LNs), and they are at increased risk for node-positive breast cancer. However, the relationship between enlarged axillary nodes and axillary metastases has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between axillary metastases and fat-enlarged axillary nodes visualized on mammograms and breast MRI in obese women with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer. Methods This retrospective case–control study included 431 patients with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer. The primary analysis of this study included 306 patients with pre-treatment and pre-operative breast MRI and body mass index (BMI) > 30 (201 node-positive cases and 105 randomly selected node-negative controls) diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between April 1, 2011, and March 1, 2020. The largest visible LN was measured in the axilla contralateral to the known breast cancer on breast MRI. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between node-positive status and LN size adjusting for age, BMI, tumor size, tumor grade, tumor subtype, and lymphovascular invasion. Results A strong likelihood of node-positive breast cancer was observed among obese women with fat-expanded lymph nodes (adjusted OR for the 4th vs. 1st quartile for contralateral LN size on MRI: 9.70; 95% CI 4.26, 23.50; p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve for size of fat-enlarged nodes in the contralateral axilla identified on breast MRI had an area under the curve of 0.72 for predicting axillary metastasis, and this increased to 0.77 when combined with patient and tumor characteristics. Conclusion Fat expansion of axillary lymph nodes was associated with a high likelihood of axillary metastases in obese women with invasive breast cancer independent of BMI and tumor characteristics.

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Histologic Grade Remains a Prognostic Factor for Breast Cancer Regardless of the Number of Positive Lymph Nodes and Tumor Size: A Study of 161 708 Cases of Breast Cancer From the SEER Program

Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.5858/arpa.2013-0435-oa ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 138 (8) ◽

pp. 1048-1052 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Arnold M. Schwartz ◽

Donald Earl Henson ◽

Dechang Chen ◽

Sivasankari Rajamarthandan

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Prognostic Factor ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Tumor Size ◽

Nodal Status ◽

Histologic Grade ◽

Axillary Lymph Nodes ◽

Low Grade ◽

Axillary Lymph ◽

Data Set

Context.—The appropriate staging of breast cancers includes an evaluation of tumor size and nodal status. Histologic grade in breast cancer, though important and assessed for all tumors, is not integrated within tumor staging. Objective.—To determine whether the histologic grade remains a prognostic factor for breast cancer regardless of tumor size and the number of involved axillary lymph nodes. Design.—By using a new clustering algorithm, the 10-year survival for every combination of T, N, and the histologic grade was determined for cases of breast cancer obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute. There were 36 combinations of TN, defined according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer, and grade. Results.—For each combination of T and N, a categorical increase in the histologic grade was associated with a progressive decrease in 10-year survival regardless of the number of involved axillary lymph nodes or size of the primary tumor. Absolute survival differences between high and low grade persisted despite larger tumor sizes and greater nodal involvement, though trends were apparent with increasing breast cancer stage. Statistical significance depended on the number of cases for each combination. Conclusions.—Histologic grade continues to be of prognostic importance for overall survival despite tumor size and nodal status. Furthermore, these results seem to indicate that the assignment of the histologic grade has been consistent among pathologists when evaluated in a large data set of patients with breast cancer. The incorporation of histologic grade in TNM staging for breast cancer provides important prognostic information.

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Fat-enlarged Axillary Lymph Nodes are Associated with Node-Positive Breast Cancer in Obese Patients

10.1101/2021.02.17.20246504 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Roberta M. diFlorio-Alexander ◽

Qingyuan Song ◽

Dennis Dwan ◽

Judith A. Austin-Strohbehn ◽

Kristen E. Muller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Lymph Nodes ◽

Invasive Breast Cancer ◽

Breast Mri ◽

Axillary Lymph Nodes ◽

Axillary Lymph ◽

Obese Women ◽

Axillary Metastases ◽

Node Positive ◽

Positive Breast Cancer

AbstractPurposeObesity-associated fat infiltration of organ systems is accompanied by organ dysfunction and poor cancer outcomes. Obese women demonstrate variable degrees of fat infiltration of axillary lymph nodes (LNs), and they are at increased risk for node-positive breast cancer. However, the relationship between enlarged axillary nodes and axillary metastases has not been investigated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between axillary metastases and fat-enlarged axillary nodes visualized on mammograms and breast MRI in obese women with a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer.MethodsThis retrospective case-control study included 431 patients with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer. The primary analysis of this study included 306 patients with pre-operative MRI and body mass index (BMI) > 30 (201 node-positive cases and 105 randomly selected node-negative controls) diagnosed with invasive breast cancer diagnosed between April 1, 2011, and March 1, 2020. The largest visible LN was measured in the axilla contralateral to the known breast cancer on breast MRI. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between node-positive status and LN size adjusting for age, BMI, tumor size, tumor grade, tumor subtype, and lymphovascular invasion.ResultsA strong likelihood of node-positive breast cancer was observed among obese women with fat-expanded lymph nodes (adjusted OR for the 4th vs. 1st quartile for contralateral LN size on MRI: 9.70; 95% CI: 4.26, 23.50; p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve for size of fat-enlarged nodes in the contralateral axilla identified on breast MRI had an area under the curve of 0.72 for predicting node-positive breast cancer and this increased to 0.80 when combined with patient and tumor characteristics.ConclusionFat expansion of axillary lymph nodes was associated with a high likelihood of axillary metastases in obese women with invasive breast cancer independent of BMI and tumor characteristics.

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