Internal mammary chain (IMC) is one of the main local lymph drainages in breast cancer. However, internal mammary chain sentinel lymph node biopsy (IMC-SLNB) is not always performed. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the outcomes of IMC-SLNB in our institution from 2008 to 2014. We analyzed 1346 women with breast cancer. Six-hundred twenty-two sentinel node biopsies were carried out, one out of ten in IMC territory. Adjuvant radiotherapy in this area was added when positive. IMC-SLNB is feasible, it may change tumour stage, modify adjuvant therapy and change prognosis in selected patients.
Keywords: Adjuvant radiotherapy; Early-stage breast cancer; Internal mammary chain; Lymphoscintigraphy; Sentinel lymph node biopsy.
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