Predictors of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with impalpable breast cancer

To define a subgroup of patients in whom axillary lymph node dissection could be omitted, 111 patients with an impalpable invasive breast carcinoma were studied. The records of these patients were reviewed for pathological axillary lymph node status, age, menopausal status, clinical nodal status, findings on mammography and tumour characteristics such as tumour size, tumour grade, mitotic activity index, receptor status, and lymphatic and blood vessel invasion. Twenty-two per cent of the patients had lymph node metastases. Age and tumour size were significantly correlated to pathological nodal status.