Factors Correlating With Lymph Node Metastases in Patients With T1 Breast Cancer

Background: Identification of reliable predictors of axillary metastases (ALNM) may be useful in selecting appropriate management for patients with T1-size breast cancer. This study was undertaken to determine the degree of correlation between ALNM and several variables, including age, race, menopausal status, palpability, tumor size, positive margin on initial excision, histology, grade, lymphatic invasion (LI), estrogen receptor status (ER), progesterone receptor status, S-phase, and ploidy.Methods: Data from 1416 patients with T1 breast cancers treated at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center between 1989 and 1998 was reviewed. Patients with multifocal tumors were excluded.Results: Mean patient age was 57.5 years (SD = 12.0); 65% of the patients were postmenopausal. One hundred thirty-one patients with T1a (≤0.5 cm), 435 with T1b (0.6–1.0 cm), and 850 patients with T1c (1.1–2.0 cm) lesions were studied. The overall rate of ALNM was 23%. AM was identified in 11% of T1a, 15% of T1b, and 29% of T1c patients. Statistically significant factors from univariate analysis were age, palpability, skin changes, tumor size, LI, histology, grade, ER status, and positive margin on initial excision.Conclusions: Axillary staging by either sentinel lymph node biopsy or level I/II axillary dissection is indicated for most T1 breast cancer patients. Omission of axillary staging can be considered for highly selected patients with T1a cancers.