Table 4 Comparisons between patients with small internal mammary lymph nodes (< 1.0 cm) and patients with large internal mammary lymph node (≥1.0 cm)
From: Optimal radiotherapy for patients with internal mammary lymph node metastasis from breast cancer
Characteristics | Number of patients (%) | p-value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
IMN size < 1.0 cm,(n = 42) | IMN size ≥1.0 cm,(n = 42) | |||
Age | ≤40 years | 20 (47.6%) | 18 (42.9%) | 0.827 |
> 40 years | 22 (52.4%) | 24 (57.1%) | ||
Histologic grade | 1–2 | 23 (54.8%) | 22 (52.4%) | 0.638 |
3 | 13 (31.0%) | 17 (40.5%) | ||
Subtypes1) | Non-TNBC | 29 (69.0%) | 25 (59.5%) | 0.495 |
TNBC | 13 (31.0%) | 17 (40.5%) | ||
cT stages | 1–2 | 23 (54.8%) | 24 (57.1%) | 1.000 |
3–4 | 19 (45.2%) | 18 (42.9%) | ||
cN stages | 2b or 3b | 30 (71.4%) | 33 (78.6%) | 0.615 |
3c | 12 (28.6%) | 9 (21.4%) | ||
Malignant cells on FNABx of the IMN | (−) or unknown | 22 (52.4%) | 22 (52.4%) | 1.000 |
(+) | 20 (47.6%) | 20 (47.6%) | ||
Extent of IMN | Single ICS | 20 (47.6%) | 17 (40.5%) | 0.661 |
Multiple ICS | 22 (52.4%) | 25 (59.5%) | ||
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy | Performed | 29 (69.0%) | 37 (88.1%) | 0.061 |
Not performed | 13 (31.0%) | 5 (11.9%) | ||
Primary surgery | BCS | 20 (47.6%) | 20 (47.6%) | 1.000 |
Mastectomy | 22 (52.4%) | 22 (52.4%) | ||
Axillary surgery | ALND | 39 (92.9%) | 35 (83.3%) | 0.313 |
SLNB | 3 (7.1%) | 7 (16.7%) | ||
EQD2 of the IMN2) | 50.0–63.5 Gy | 20 (47.6%) | 15 (35.7%) | 0.376 |
63.6–70.4 Gy | 22 (52.4%) | 27 (64.3%) | ||