Predictors of Negative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Results in Early Breast Cancer: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Authors

  • Saman Naz Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Ayesha Javed Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Syeda Rifaat Naqvi Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Aqsa Saleema Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Zohra Jabeen Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan
  • Syeda Saima Qamar Naqvi Baqai Medical University Karachi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v76iSUPPL-1.13868

Keywords:

Ki-67 Antigen, Neoplasm, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Tumor Receptor Status

Abstract

Objective: To identify clinicopathologic predictors of negative sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNBx) in clinically node-negative breast cancer patients at a tertiary center in Pakistan.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Breast Surgery Department, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jan to Dec 2024. Methodology: Women with early-stage, clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer undergoing SLNBx were included. Data on tumor size, grade, receptor profile, Ki-67, comorbidities, and family history were analyzed. Chi square test was applied and p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Of 186 patients, 142 had complete data; 120 (84.5%) had negative SLNBx. There was a statistically significant association found between SLN and Menopause (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), family history (p= 0.026), tumor grade (p < 0.001) and histology (p = 0.005). 

. Conclusion: A negative family history was the only independent predictor of SLNBx outcome. The high rate of pathologic node negativity supports selective de-escalation of axillary surgery in this subgroup.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

  • Syeda Rifaat Naqvi, Department of Breast Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Pakistan

    di

References

1. Hersh EH, King TA. De-escalating axillary surgery in early-stage breast cancer. Breast 2022; 62(Suppl1): S43–S49.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.breast.2021.11.018

2. Gentilini OD, Botteri E, Sangalli C, Galimberti V, Porpiglia M, Agresti R, et al. Sentinel lymph node biopsy vs no axillary surgery in patients with small breast cancer and negative results on ultrasonography of axillary lymph nodes: the SOUND randomized clinical trial. JAMA Oncol 2023; 9(11): 1557–1564.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2023.3759

3. Kim H, Han J, Kim SY, Lee ES, Kang HS, Lee S, et al. Sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients with pathological complete response in the axillary lymph node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. J Breast Cancer 2021; 24(6): 531–541.

https://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2021.24.e48

4. Min SK, Lee SK, Woo J, Jung SM, Ryu JM, Yu J, et al. Relation between tumor size and lymph node metastasis according to subtypes of breast cancer. J Breast Cancer 2021; 24(1): 75–84.

https://doi.org/10.4048/jbc.2021.24.e11

5. He Z, Lan X, Tan Y, Lin X, Wen G, Wang X, et al. Identification of risk factors associated with axillary lymph node metastasis for sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer patients. J Oncol 2020;2020: 8884337.

https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8884337

6. Abdulla HA, Salman AZ, Alaraibi SJ, Nazzal K, Ahmed SA, Almahari SA, et al. Risk factors associated with sentinel lymph node metastasis in clinically node-negative breast cancer. Eur J Breast Health 2023; 19(3): 229–34.

https://doi.org/10.4048/ejbh.2023.19.e32

7. Zaman MU, Sajjad Z, Khan S, Zafar H, Khan N, Jafri SZ. Sentinel lymph node scintigraphy and radioguided biopsy in breast cancer: experience from Pakistan. J Pak Med Assoc 2006; 56(4): 153–156.

8. Gong K, Yang S, Liu Y, Xu Y. Effects of sentinel lymph node biopsy combined with breast-conserving surgery on surgical-related indexes, serum TPA level and recurrence rate in patients with early breast cancer. Pak J Med Sci 2025; 41(3): 832–836.

https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.41.3.9863

9. Wang X, Ji X, Li G. Sample size estimation in clinical research: from randomized controlled trials to observational studies. Chest 2020; 158(1 Suppl): S12–S20.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.010

10. Yan X, Zhang Y, Liu J. A multicenter retrospective analysis on lymph node metastasis in clinically node-negative breast cancer. Cancer Manag Res 2025; 17: 1–9.

https://doi.org/10.2147/CMAR.S543923

11. Wang Q, Li B, Liu Z, Shang H, Jing H, Shao H, et al. Prediction model of axillary lymph node status using automated breast ultrasound and Ki-67 status in early-stage breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22: 929.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10034-3

12. Giuliano AE, Hunt KK, Ballman KV, Beitsch PD, Whitworth PW, Blumencranz PW, et al. Axillary dissection vs no axillary dissection in women with invasive breast cancer and sentinel node metastasis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2011; 305(6): 569–575.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2011.99

13. Di Paola V, Mazzotta G, Pignatelli V, Bufi E, D’Angelo A, Conti M, et al. Beyond N staging in breast cancer: importance of MRI and ultrasound-based imaging. Cancers 2022; 14(17): 4270.

https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14174270

14. Siddiqui R, Mehmood MH, Khan NA. An overview of breast cancer in Pakistan. Disc Med 2024; 1(1): 82.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s44337-024-00089-5

15. Menon S, Thakur MH, Desai SB, Shet T, Ghosh J, Chinoy R, et al. Impact of family history on the burden of nodal disease in breast cancer. Indian J Surg Oncol 2022; 13(3): 541–555.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13193-022-01601-2

16. Liu X, Wang Y, Cao K, Yao L, Hu L, Sun J, et al. Impact of multifocal or multicentric disease on local recurrence and survival in breast cancer patients with or without BRCA1/2 variants. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 199(1): 25–33.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-023-06883-8

17. Chen S, Parmigiani G. Meta-analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 penetrance. J Clin Oncol 2007; 25(12): 1467–1471.

https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2006.09.1066

18. Peairs KS, Barone BB, Yeh HC, Stein KB, Berger Z, Wilson LM, et al. Diabetes mellitus and breast cancer outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Oncol 2011; 29(1): 40–46.

https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2009.27.3011

19. Aroner SA, Yang J, Tamimi RM, Holmes MD. Hypertension and breast cancer risk and mortality. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2017; 162(2): 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4140-5

20. de Azambuja E, Cardoso F, de Castro G Jr, Colozza M, Mano MS, Durbecq V, et al. Ki-67 as prognostic marker in early breast cancer: a meta-analysis of published studies involving 12,155 patients. Br J Cancer 2007; 96(10): 1504–1513.

https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6603756

21. Reimer T, Stachs A, Nekljudova V, Loibl S, Hartmann S, Wolter K, et al. INSEMA trial: Sentinel node vs no axillary surgery in early breast cancer. Ann Oncol 2023; 34(5): 552–555.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2023.01.008

22. Sağdıç MF, Dinçer B, Özaslan C. De-escalation of axillary surgery in early breast cancer: translating ACOSOG Z0011 study into clinical practice for breast-conserving surgery patients with positive sentinel lymph node biopsy. BMC Cancer 2025; 25(1): 706.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-12628-9

Downloads

Published

30-01-2026

Issue

Section

Original Articles

Categories

How to Cite

1.
Naz S, Javed A, Naqvi SR, Saleema A, Jabeen Z, Naqvi SSQ. Predictors of Negative Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Results in Early Breast Cancer: a Retrospective Cohort Study. Pak Armed Forces Med J [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 30 [cited 2026 Feb. 6];76(SUPPL-1):S309-S313. Available from: https://www.pafmj.org/PAFMJ/article/view/13868