Internal mammary lymphadenopathy in breast cancer: a narrative review and update.

Transl Breast Cancer Res

Division of Breast and Melanoma Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Published: April 2024

AI Article Synopsis

  • The internal mammary (IM) lymph node chain is important in breast cancer management, as it can be involved in around 13-37% of cases, but current data on diagnosis and treatment is limited.
  • Improved imaging techniques have enhanced the detection of IM nodal involvement, making traditional surgical staging less relevant, although IM nodal metastases do not independently increase locoregional recurrence risk.
  • Variations in radiation treatment practices for IM lymphadenopathy exist globally, pointing to the need for clearer guidelines and more data to inform clinical decision-making.

Article Abstract

Background And Objective: While the axillary nodal basin is the most common lymphatic drainage pathway of the breast, the internal mammary (IM) lymph node chain plays a significant role in breast cancer staging and treatment. It has been identified as sentinel nodal drainage in approximately 13-37% of patients. Despite this, the data is still limited with regard to diagnosis and management when there is suspicion or confirmation of IM lymph node (IMLN) involvement by metastatic breast cancer. The objective of this publication is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current body of literature surrounding the diagnosis, management and prognostic value of IMLNs in breast cancer treatment.

Methods: Review of the literature published regarding IMLN diagnosis, significance, and management was completed in PubMed. Additional focus was placed on reviewing articles published within the past 10 years as foundation for an update regarding the current practice and future directions in this space.

Key Content And Findings: Improved imaging techniques, with positron emission tomography-computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, have led to increase in the identification of IM lymphadenopathy, yielding surgical staging of the IM nodes nearly obsolete. While IM nodal metastases may play a role in overall survival (OS), it has not been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for increased locoregional recurrence. IM nodal irradiation (IMNI) therapy has been a mainstay in the treatment of IM disease in the context of breast cancer. IMNI has demonstrated improvement in OS and risk of distant recurrence. Wide variations in radiation practices for patients with IM lymphadenopathy exist internationally, highlighting the lack of clear data driven consensus guidelines.

Conclusions: Herein, we provide an updated assessment of the current diagnosis, clinical significance, and management of IM lymphadenopathy for breast cancer patients.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11093064PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tbcr-24-2DOI Listing

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