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Libri Oncologici : Croatian Journal of Oncology, Vol. 31 No. 1-3, 2003.

Original scientific paper

Metastatic involvement in interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph nodes in breast cancer patients

Danko Velimir Vrdoljak ; Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Vesna Ramljak ; Department of Clinical Cytology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Dubravka Mužina ; Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Mladen Stanec ; Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Fabijan Knežević ; Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Stjepan Juzbašić ; Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia
Marica Vrdoljak ; Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

The study was aimed at analyzing metastatic involvement in interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph nodes in patients with primary breast cancer.
The study includes 172 female patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer at the University Hospital for Tumors, Zagreb, Croatia from November 2001 to August 2003. In addition to the standard surgical procedure, interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph nodes were removed in all of the patients.
Rotter's lymph nodes were identified in 67% of the patients, with metastatic involvement revealed in 20% of the Rotter's nodes. Metastatic involvement of Rotter's nodes in patients with negative and positive axillary lymph nodes was 4% and 35%, respectively.
The results show that one-fifth of breast cancer patients, or even one-third of them with positive axillary lymph nodes, are discharged with positive interpectoral lymph nodes that remain undiagnozed and non-extirpated. As the nodes can be surgically removed without additional mutilation or resections, the exploration of Rotter's lymph nodes should be introduced into routine clinical practice for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons.

Keywords

breast cancer; interpectoral (Rotter's) lymph nodes

Hrčak ID:

281788

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/281788

Publication date:

3.12.2003.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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