Sentinel node biopsy = less lymphedema, better QOL (ALMANAC)
Clinical Question
Is sentinel lymph node biopsy preferred over standard axillary node dissection in patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer?Clinical Question
Bottom Line
Compared with standard axillary node dissection, sentinel lymph node biopsy is associated with less lymphedema and better quality of life in patients undergoing surgery for early stage breast cancer that clinically appears to be node-negative. (LOE = 2b)Bottom Line
Reference
Mansel RE, Fallowfield L, Kissin M, et al. Randomized multicenter trial of sentinel node biopsy versus standard axillary treatment in operable breast cancer: the ALMANAC Trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:599-609. [PMID:16670385]Reference
Study Design
Randomized controlled trial (nonblinded)Study Design
Funding
GovernmentFunding
Allocation
ConcealedAllocation
Setting
Inpatient (any location) with outpatient follow-upSetting
Synopsis
In this multicenter study, women younger than 80 years scheduled to have a wide local excision or mastectomy for clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer were randomly assigned to standard axillary node dissection (n=496) or sentinel lymph node biopsy (n=495). Before being allowed to participate in the trial, the surgeons had to pass muster by performing at least 40 sentinel lymph node biopsies that were followed by more invasive axillary node dissection. If the surgeon identified the sentinel lymph node at least 90% of the time, he or she could participate. The main outcomes -- lymphedema and quality of life -- were assessed via intention to treat. At the end of 1 year, 2.1% of the standard treatment patients reported moderate to severe lymphedema compared with 0.8% of those treated with sentinel node biopsy (number needed to treat = 80). Participants undergoing sentinel node biopsy reported better quality of life, as measured by the Trial Outcome Index of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy--Breast (FACT-B), a breast cancer-specific quality of life measure. At the end of 1 year, the researchers had complete follow-up data on 82% of the patients, which could affect the overall results.Synopsis
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Citation
Barry, Henry, et al., editors. "Sentinel Node Biopsy = Less Lymphedema, Better QOL (ALMANAC)." EE+ POEM Archive, John Wiley & Sons, 2019. Evidence Central, evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426622/all/Sentinel_node_biopsy_=_less_lymphedema__better_QOL__ALMANAC_.
Sentinel node biopsy = less lymphedema, better QOL (ALMANAC). In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, et al, eds. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2019. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426622/all/Sentinel_node_biopsy_=_less_lymphedema__better_QOL__ALMANAC_. Accessed March 24, 2023.
Sentinel node biopsy = less lymphedema, better QOL (ALMANAC). (2019). In Barry, H., Ebell, M. H., Shaughnessy, A. F., & Slawson, D. C. (Eds.), EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426622/all/Sentinel_node_biopsy_=_less_lymphedema__better_QOL__ALMANAC_
Sentinel Node Biopsy = Less Lymphedema, Better QOL (ALMANAC) [Internet]. In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, Slawson DCD, editors. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2019. [cited 2023 March 24]. Available from: https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426622/all/Sentinel_node_biopsy_=_less_lymphedema__better_QOL__ALMANAC_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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BT - EE+ POEM Archive
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