Detection and significance of occult axillary node metastases in patients with invasive breast cancer

摘要: Blocks of axillary lymph nodes from 78 patients with invasive breast cancer, which after “routine”pathological examination were regarded as negative for metastases, step-sectioned at 20 u intervals. Occult metastases detected in 24% the cases. A significant association between such and a lack or slight degree an intraductal carcinomatous component dominant cancer was noted. There no relationship occult 15 other histopathological 3 clinical features investigated, including average 5 year survival rate. Similarly there correlation any possible discriminants investigated who have died their diseases are living recurrence regardless presence metastases. Factors accounting universal Stage I (and those that might be designated 1 1/2) remain enigmatic. It is concluded attempts to detect by extending methods may more academic than practical therapeutically significant. Cancer 42:2025–2031, 1978.