Axillary lymph node metastases in patients with a final diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ

Background: Recent studies report the incidence of axillary metastases in patients with ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) approaches 13%. The purpose of this study was to define the incidence of axillary micrometastases in patients with pure DCIS before and after the introduction of sentinel lymph node biopsy. Methods: Patients with a final diagnosis of DCIS form the basis of this study. Data were entered prospectively into an Institutional Review Board approved Oracle, database from January 1997 through July 2002. Results: One hundred and thirty-four patients had lymph nodes evaluated. Ninety-eight percent of patients had no evidence of metastatic disease and 2% were found to have micrometastases. This was consistent in those who, had level I or II lymph node sampling or both and those who had lymphatic mapping and a sentinel lymph node biopsy procedure. Conclusions: These data do not support axillary lymph node removal of any type in patients with pure DCIS. (C) 2003 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.