Is risk of axillary lymph node metastasis associated with proximity of breast cancer to the skin?

Introduction: Risk of axillary lymph node metastasis, the most important predictor of disease-free and overall survival in breast cancer patients, is estimated primarily from histologic features of the primary cancer including tumor size, histologic type and grade, and hormone receptor expression. Based upon a clinical impression, and research showing that palpable cancers are more likely to be node positive, we hypothesized that primary breast cancers more proximal to the skin of the breast are more likely to be positive for axillary lymph node metastasis.

Methods: This is a retrospective medical record review of 209 women with stage T1 or T2 ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF