Prognostic significance of further axillary dissection in breast cancer patients with micrometastases & the number of micrometastases: a SEER population-based analysis

AIM: To investigate the benefits of axillary dissection in patients with micrometastases. METHODS: A review of data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was performed from 2004 to 2013. Kaplan–Meier curves, Cox regression models, and propensity score matching were utilized to comprehensively evaluate the cohort. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis after propensity score matching showed that patients with one to two micrometastases did not substantially benefit from axillary lymph node dissection in breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.725). However, a subgroup analysis indicated that axillary dissection may benefit estrogen receptor-negative patients. Moreover, patients who carried three micrometastases had a significantly lower crude hazard ratio in breast cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSION: Axillary lymph node dissection may have advantages in high-risk micrometastatic patients. Patients with three micrometastases should be treated with caution.