SLNB After Neoadjuvant Treatment in Node Positive Patients

From May 2017 SLNB after neoadjuvant treatment was introduced in clinical practice for breast cancer patients presenting initially with involved axilla but shifted to clinically negative followed neoadjuvant treatment. This retrospective analysis is designed for period of one year before and one year later to compare the clinical outcomes for this patients in the setting where ALND was performed to the setting where SLNB was performed.

The main hypothesis was to establish that SLNB after neoadjuvant treatment, in initially node positive breast cancer patients that achieve complete clinical remission following neoadjuvant treatment, is reliable alternative to ALND in maintenance of locoregional control of disease.

For the purpose of this trial four groups were created and the results would be compared among them. In first postoperative year patients were monitored for the appearance of locoregional and distant recurrence.

Data were collected individually for each patient and recorded in register. All data are available to all members of investigation team, members of Ethic Committee and statistician.

Data collected in this trial would be used for publication.

Inclusion criteria

• operable breast cancer submitted to neoadjuvant treatment in CHC Rijeka, followed by surgery in period from May 2016 till May 2018

Exclusion criteria

• T4 stage
• inflammatory breast cancer
• M1 stage at the time of diagnose
• bilateral disease
• multicentric disease
• unavailable complete required data