ABSTRACT

Background:

NAC (Neo-adjuvan chemotherapy) is the standard treatment method for locally advanced breast cancers. NAC is used to decrease of stage in locally advanced cancer and/or preparation for breast conserving surgery. Evaluation of patients’ responses to NAC is vital for both prognosis and treatment decisions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in axillary nodes and tissues after NAC and the effect of these alterations on dissected and positive lymph node numbers.

Material and method:

47 locally advanced breast cancer patients who received neo-adjuvan chemotherapy (NAC) between 2002 and 2005 were evaluated retrospectively for their number of total and positive lymph nodes after axillary lymph node dissection. Fifty-eight breast cancer patients at same stages who did not receive NAC were selected as a control group to compare the total and positive axillary lymph node numbers.

Results:

The mean number of dissected lymph nodes was 11.3 for NAC group patients (range 4 to 20) and the mean number of positive lymph nodes was 3.6 (range 0 to 15). The mean number of total lymph nodes was 19.5 (range 10 to 35) in the control group, and the mean positive lymph node number was 9.2 (range 2 to 31). The differences were statistically significant for both total number of lymph nodes and number of positive lymph nodes.

Conclusion:

Alterations on axillary tissue and lymph nodes after NAC are important factors for evaluating the response to chemotherapy and determining the prognosis of disease.