Relevant Risk Factors Of Internal Mammary Lymph Nodes Metastasis In Breast Cancer Patients

ObjectiveTo study the relevant risk factors of internal mammary lymph nodes(IMLN) metastasis in breast cancer patients, and metastatic status of IMLN has a clinical importance in assessing the stage and prognosis of breast cancer. According to the internal mammary lymph node metastasis risk factors for future research within the clinical significance of lymph node biopsy in breast cancer patients. MethodsOur data from the Breast Cancer Center, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, the clinical data of 142 female patients received extended radical mastectomy were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The 8 individual variables, such as median age, clinical T category, final tumor size, tumor location, histology, hormone receptor status, lymphovascular invasion and status of axillary lymph node(ALN), were selected to investigate relevant risk factors of IMLN metastasis. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test and rank-sum tests with a significance level of 0.05. ResultsThe metastasis of IMLN of 22 patients was not correlated with median age, clinical T category(P>0.1), tumor location(P=0.25, P>0.1), histology(>0.1), hormone receptor status(ER P=0.9, PR P=0.6)(P>0.05). However, it was correlated with median age(P<0.001), lymphovascular invasion(P =0.01), final tumor size(P=0.025) and status of axillary lymph node(P<0.005). And the number of ≥4 axillary lymph node-positive patients compared with the number of <4 axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients breast has a significant difference(P <0.005). ConclusionsWe identified 22 of IMLN metastasis in 142 patients(15.5%). Younger patients with lymphovascular invasion, smaller and medial of final tumor size and metastasis of axillary lymph nodes, moreover, the number of metastasis of axillary lymph nodes over 4 were high risk factors of IMLN metastasis.