Predictive factors for recurrence in axillary node-negative breast carcinoma

Abstract

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in breast carcinoma. However 10% to 20% of axillary node-negative patients present recurrence on follow-up. To evaluate the predictive factors for recurrence, 738 cases of breast carcinoma surgically treated between 1995-1997 in a cancer hospital in Salvador, Brasil (Hosp. Aristides Maltez) were reviewed. There were 271 axillary node-negative patients, 32 of them (11,8%) with recurrent disease. The mean age was 60 years. Age, tumor size and histologic grading (Scarff-Bloom-Richardson) were compared between Group 1 (with recurrence) and Group 2 (free of recurrence). Relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals of 95% were calculated. Results showed RR=3.45 (1.65; 7.22) for recurrence and age below 40 years. As to histologic grading, patients with grade III had RR=3.08 (1.52; 6.24) for recurrence, compared to patients grade I and II. Tumors larger than 2cm and 5cm had RR=1.13 (0.55; 2.33) and RR=1.75 (0.74; 4.14) respectively. These results suggest that age below 40 years and histologic grade III are important predictive factors of recurrence in axillary node-negative breast carcinoma. These findings are in accordance with the literature and may justify complementary therapeutic measures for this group of patients.