In the Z0011 trial (ACOSOG Z0011), sentinel lymph node biopsy without axillary lymph node dissection was found non-inferior to full axillary clearance in which specific patient group?

• A All T1–T2 breast cancer patients with any number of positive sentinel nodes
• B Mastectomy patients with macrometastases in sentinel nodes
• C T1–T2 clinically node-negative patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery with 1–2 positive sentinel nodes ✓
• D Patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy with residual nodal disease

Explanation

The ACOSOG Z0011 trial specifically enrolled cT1–T2, cN0 patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery with whole-breast irradiation who had 1–2 positive sentinel lymph nodes. In this group, omission of completion axillary dissection did not compromise locoregional control or survival. This does not apply to mastectomy patients or those with 3 or more positive sentinel nodes.

Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.