No more axillary dissection in patients with ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN)

Eur J Cancer. 2010 Feb;46(3):476-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2009.12.004. Epub 2010 Jan 22.

Abstract

Although it has been shown that axillary dissection (AD) is unnecessary and without a rational basis in patients with pure ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN), it is evident from the literature that AD (i.e., in the USA and in the UK) has been still recently performed. Furthermore sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is not usually required in all cases of DIN, but may be indicated in certain specific cases. Even if the SLNB is positive, AD should not be performed immediately but only in cases where an invasive component is found on definitive pathological examination of the DIN lesions.

MeSH terms

  • Axilla
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma in Situ / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymph Node Excision*
  • Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
  • Unnecessary Procedures / statistics & numerical data