Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis as the first evidence of locally recurrent breast carcinoma

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: An oligometastatic-like disease

BACKGROUND

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) is rare. It remains controversial whether CAM should be regarded as a regional or distant metastatic disease. Our study aims to investigate the accurate clinical orientation and management of CAM.

METHODS

Two hundred and ninety-nine female patients diagnosed with breast cancer from 2000 to 2014 and confirmed to develop CAM, oligometastasis (OM) or locoregional recurrence (LRR) at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center (FUSCC) were included in this study. Baseline information and survival outcomes were analyzed and compared among the three groups.

RESULTS

Patients with CAM exhibited similar overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) to those with OM, but worse than those with LRR (HR: 0.47 [95 % CI: 0.27-0.85], p = 0.0097; HR:0.39 [95 % CI: 0.24-0.63], p < 0.0001, respectively). Considering the patients presented with CAM or OM as a whole, we found that local treatment combined with systemic treatment did not provide a superior survival benefit over systemic treatment alone.

CONCLUSION

CAM was similar to an oligometastatic-like disease, and patients with these diseases may benefit from systemic treatment. Adding local treatment failed to significantly improve OS.

Contralateral lymph node metastasis in recurrent ipsilateral breast cancer with Lynch syndrome: a locoregional event

INTRODUCTION

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CALNM) in breast cancer (BC) is considered a distant metastasis, marking stage 4cancer. Therefore, it is generally treated as an incurable disease. However, in clinical practice, staging and treatment remain controversial due to a paucity of data, and the St. Gallen 2021 consensus panel recommended a curative approach in patients with oligometastatic disease. Aberrant lymph node (LN) drainage following previous surgery or radiotherapy is common. Therefore, CALNM may be considered a regional event rather than systemic disease, and a re-sentinel procedure aided by lymphoscintigraphy permits adequate regional staging.

CASE REPORT

Here, we report a 37-year-old patient with Lynch syndrome who presented with CALNM in an ipsilateral relapse of a moderately differentiated invasive ductal BC (ER 90%, PR 30%, HER2 negative, Ki-67 25%, microsatellite stable), 3 years after the initial diagnosis. Lymphoscintigraphy detected a positive sentinel LN in the contralateral axilla despite no sign of LN involvement or distant metastases on FDG PET/CT or MRI. The patient underwent bilateral mastectomy with sentinel node dissection, surgical reconstruction with histological confirmation of the CALNM, left axillary dissection, adjuvant chemotherapy, and anti-hormone therapy. In addition to her regular BC follow-up visits, the patient will undergo annual colonoscopy, gastroscopy, abdominal, and vaginal ultrasound screening. In January 2023, the patient was free of progression for 23 months after initiation of treatment for recurrent BC and CALNM.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the value of delayed lymphoscintigraphy and the contribution of sentinel procedure for local control in the setting of recurrent BC. Aberrant lymph node drainage following previous surgery may be the underlying cause of CALNM. We propose that CALNM without evidence of systemic metastasis should be considered a regional event in recurrent BC, and thus, a curative approach can be pursued. The next AJCC BC staging should clarify the role of CALNM in recurrent BC to allow for the development of specific treatment guidelines.

Contralateral Axillary Nodal Metastases: Stage IV Disease or a Manifestation of Progressive Locally Advanced Breast Cancer?

BACKGROUND

Contralateral axillary nodal metastases (CAM) is classified as stage IV disease, although many centers treat CAM with curative intent. We hypothesized that patients with CAM, treated with multimodality therapy, would have improved overall survival (OS) versus patients with distant metastatic disease (M1) and similar OS to those with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

METHODS

Using the NCDB (2004-2016), we categorized adult patients with node-positive breast cancer into three study groups: LABC, CAM, and M1. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to visualize the unadjusted OS. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the association of study group with OS.

RESULTS

A total of 94,487 patients were identified: 122 with CAM, 12,325 with LABC, and 82,040 with M1 (median follow-up 63.6 months). LABC and CAM patients had similar histology and rates of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy receipt. However, the CAM group had significantly larger tumors, more estrogen-receptor expression, higher T-stage, and more mastectomies than the LABC group. Compared with M1 patients, CAM patients were more likely to have grade 3 and cT4 tumors. Patients with CAM and LABC had similar 5-year unadjusted OS and significantly improved OS vs M1 patients. After adjustment, LABC and CAM patients continued to have similar OS and better OS vs M1 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CAM patients who receive multi-modal therapy with curative intent may have OS more comparable to LABC patients than M1 patients. Out data support a reevaluation of whether CAM should remain classified as M1, as N3 may better reflect disease prognosis and treatment goals.

Breast cancer metastasizing to the contralateral axilla several years after treatment: A case report with literature review

Introduction and importance

Lymph node metastasis is the most prominent prognostic factor in breast cancer. The aim of this paper is to report a case of contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) which look like metachronous initially, but histopathologicaly confirmed as synchronous CAM.

Case presentation

A-44-year old female was a known case of left breast cancer five years prior to this presentation (T2,N2,M0, grade III, Triple negative, multifocal invasive ductal carcinoma). On follow up, multiple contralateral axillary suspicious lymph nodes were discovered. Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology from the lesion revealed grade III, Triple negative, invasive ductal carcinoma consistent with metastasis from the left invasive ductal carcinoma. Bilateral mastectomy and right axillary dissection were performed. The histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry showed left breast recurrent 0.5 cm grade III, Triple negative invasive ductal carcinoma.

Discussion

If a cancer is found in the contralateral axilla, three main potential sources should be considered: contralateral spread from the original breast tumor, metastasis from an occult primary in the ipsilateral breast, and metastasis from an extramammary site.

Conclusion

Although CAM in patients with breast cancer is an uncommon condition, it is still possible to occur. There is a controversy regarding the appropriate management.

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Lymph node metastasis is the most prominent prognostic factor in breast cancer.

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Ipsilateral axillary lymphnode metastasis is the most common site of involvement.

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Contralateral axillary lymphnode metastasis is an unusual finding.

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In this paper, a case of synchronous contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis has been discussed.

Contralateral Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in a Patient with Relapsed Breast Cancer: Locoregional Event or Distant Metastasis Disease?

INTRODUCTION

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) is a rare clinical condition in patients with breast cancer. It can be explained from hematogenous spread from the original primary tumor (stage IV) to aberrant regional lymphatic drainage to the contralateral axilla. However, according to the current clinical guidelines, regardless of its origin, CAM is considered as metastatic disease.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 68-year-old woman presented with relapsed right breast cancer; lymphoscintigraphy showed only one sentinel lymph node (SLN) in the contralateral axilla (left region). Twenty-four hours later, the patient underwent upper internal quadrantectomy and bilateral selective lymph node biopsy. The final pathological analysis revealed one contralateral macrometastasis (>4 mm) in one left SLN. Subsequently, second-level left lymphadenectomy was performed. Currently the patient is being treated with chemotherapy, with appropriate clinical response.

DISCUSSION

Our patient was considered to be node-positive rather than having metastatic disease since the preoperative lymphoscintigraphy demonstrated contralateral lymphatic drainage. Through preoperative scan in patients with relapsed breast cancer with clinically negative lymph nodes and CAM, it is possible to identify those cases that would benefit from therapy with curative intention.

Contralateral Axillary Lymph Node Metastases from Breast Carcinoma: Is it Time to Review TNM Cancer Staging?

BACKGROUND

Contralateral axillary lymph node metastasis (CAM) is an infrequent clinical condition currently considered an M1, stage IV, disease. Due to the absence of shared data on CAM significance and on its therapeutic approach, be it curative or simply palliative, its management is still uncertain and undoubtedly represents a clinical challenge.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with pathologically confirmed metachronous CAM were retrospectively evaluated. All patients had been managed at the European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy, from 1997. Patients with distant metastases at the time of CAM were excluded. Possible treatments included surgery, systemic therapy and RT (radiotherapy). Outcomes were evaluated as rates of disease-free survival (DFS) and of overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Forty-seven patients with CAM were included in the study. Metachronous CAM occurred 73 months (range 5-500 months) after diagnosis of the primary tumor. The median follow-up time was 5.4 years (interquartile range 2.9-7.0 years). The estimated OS was 72% at 5 years (95% CI 54-83), and 61% at 8 years (95% CI 43-75). The estimated DFS was 61% at 5 years (95% CI 44-74), and 42% at 8 years (95% CI 25-59).

CONCLUSION

These findings, together with those from previous studies, show that CAM outcome, particularly if measured as OS, appear better than at other sites of distant dissemination, when CAM is subjected to surgical and systemic treatments with a curative intent. Therefore, a new clinical scenario is suggested where, in the TNM system, CAM is no longer classified as a stage IV, but as an N3 disease.

Contralateral lymph node recurrence in breast cancer: Regional event rather than distant metastatic disease. A systematic review of the literature

AIMS

After treatment for breast cancer, some patients experience a contralateral lymph node recurrence (CLNR). Traditionally, contralateral nodes are considered a distant site. However, aberrant lymph drainage after previous surgery is common. This might indicate that CLNR is a regional event. This study aimed to review the literature to determine prognosis after CLNR.

METHODS

PubMed was searched up until July 2014. Articles on CLNR with or without ipsilateral breast tumour recurrence (IBTR), and repeat sentinel node (SN) studies reporting on positive contralateral nodes were included. Exclusion criteria were synchronous contralateral breast cancer and synchronous distant events.

RESULTS

24 articles were included, describing 48 patients. Of these 48, 26 patients had an isolated CLNR, 7 IBTR and clinically detected CLNR, and 15 IBTR with a positive contralateral repeat SN. Isolated CLNR occurred earlier (45.9 months) than IBTR with CLNR (126.6 months, p < 0.001) or with a positive contralateral repeat SN (217.2, p = 0.02). Surgical treatment was described for 38 patients, and consisted of axillary lymph node dissection for 34 (89.5%). Information on adjuvant therapy was available for 27 patients, 21 (77.8%) received chemotherapy. Follow-up information after CLNR was available for 23 patients (47.9%). Mean follow-up was 50.3 months. Overall survival and disease-free survival were 82.6% [95% CI 67.1-98.1] and 65.2% [45.7-84.7] respectively at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Although observed in a small population, the survival of CLNR is not comparable to distant disease. Most patients received locoregional and systemic treatment suggesting a curative approach. This indicates that CLNR should be regarded as a regional event.

Metachronous secondary primary occult breast cancer initially presenting with metastases to the contralateral axillary lymph nodes: report of a case

We report a rare case of a 64-year-old female with metachronous secondary primary left occult breast cancer initially presenting right axillary lymph node metastases. The patient, who had received breast-conserving therapy for left breast cancer at another hospital about 4.5 years ago, came to our hospital complaining of right axillary node swelling. After both breast and systemic examination, she received complete right axillary lymph node dissection. Just after the operation, she was diagnosed with right occult breast cancer by a review of the right axillary lymph nodes and previous left breast cancer. She was followed by radiation and systemic chemoendocrine therapies. One year after axillary lymph node dissection, mammography and ultrasonography showed a new lesion in her left breast. Core needle biopsy revealed similar findings to right axillary lymph node metastasis. After salvage surgery, the diagnosis was revised. We recommend that patients without clinical findings except for axillary lymph node metastasis, especially post-breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy, should be considered not only as having ipsilateral but also contralateral occult breast cancer. If there is no evidence of a primary lesion, axillary lymph node dissection needs to be carried out, and the patient should be offered the choice of radiation therapy or mastectomy followed by proper systemic therapy.

Axillary lymph node metastasis in recurrence of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Papillary thyroid cancer usually metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and to distant sites such as lungs and bones. We report a case of axillary lymph node metastasis as a result of recurrence of papillary carcinoma in a 62-year-old woman with papillary thyroid cancer extending locally beyond the thyroid capsule. Six years after initial surgical treatment, a lymph node metastasis in the left axillary region was diagnosed with positron tomography. To our knowledge, only one previous case of confirmed axillary metastasis of thyroid cancer has ever been reported. These two cases provide some evidence that thyroid carcinoma may exceptionally spread to axillary lymph nodes. Hypotheses that may account for such unusual localization include hematogenous dissemination or retrograde dissemination to regional lymphatic channels. Thus, when recurrence of thyroid carcinoma is considered, careful clinical examination of the axilla is recommended. Furthermore, thyroid carcinoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of an axillary mass, especially when breast cancer is ruled out.

Bilateral axillary metastases of occult breast carcinoma: report of a case with a review of the literature

The case of a 47-year-old premenopausal woman is presented in whom axillary lymph node metastases occurred on both sides 3 years apart although no primary tumor was detectable in either breast is presented. An overview of the literature on this rare entity is given. Patients with occult breast carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastases should have a complete physical examination, radiologic analysis (mammography, ultrasonography, and MRI of both breasts) and screening for disseminated disease. If there is no evidence of a primary tumor and metastases other than in the axilla, an axillary dissection should be carried out. In addition, the patient should be offered the choice of irradiation of the breast or mastectomy. Postoperatively, patients should receive appropriate systemic therapy tailored to their age, menopausal status, and receptor status.

MR imaging-guided sonography followed by fine-needle aspiration cytology in occult carcinoma of the breast

OBJECTIVE

In patients with axillary metastases as clinical evidence of possible occult breast cancer, a combined approach of MR imaging, sonography, and aspiration biopsy cytology was evaluated.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Thirty-one women with metastatic adenocarcinoma in their axillary lymph nodes originating from an unknown primary site underwent MR imaging of the breast because physical examination and mammography findings were normal. Twenty of the 31 women had no history of malignancy, 10 had been previously treated for contralateral breast cancer, and one patient had nodal metastases in the contralateral axilla at the time breast cancer was detected. When a contrast-enhancing lesion was revealed on MR imaging of the breast, sonography and fine-needle aspiration cytology were also performed.

RESULTS

MR imaging revealed the primary breast cancer in eight (40%) of the 20 patients without a history of malignancy. MR imaging of the breast revealed a second primary cancer in three (27%) of the 11 patients with previous or simultaneous breast cancer. All lesions were identified with sonography and verified by cytology and histology.

CONCLUSION

In women with axillary lymph node metastases from adenocarcinoma, MR imaging of the breast should be added to clinical examination and mammography before defining the breast cancer as occult. The combined approach of MR imaging, sonography, and aspiration fine-needle cytology is a good alternative to the MR imaging-guided biopsy.