Interpectoral nodes as the initial site of recurrence in XXXX .

@entity1 @entity0
HYPOTHESIS: Interpectoral nodes can be the initial site of recurrent @entity0 . DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Comprehensive breast center, located in a university-based tertiary care center. @entity1 : All @entity1 undergoing operations for @entity0 at our breast center from 1995 to 2002 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: @entity1 with interpectoral node recurrence as the initial site of recurrent @entity0 were identified. RESULTS: During the 8-year period, 4097 @entity1 underwent surgical management for @entity0 . During this time, 4 @entity1 (0.1%) had recurrence at the interpectoral nodes. Three of the 4 @entity1 were node-negative at the original operation. All lesions were mammographically occult. Preoperative needle biopsy was effective in the confirmation of malignancy. All 4 underwent excision without complications. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrence at the interpectoral nodes can be the initial site of surgical failure. These nodes may represent the site of primary drainage in a percentage of @entity1 . The sentinel node identification technique, therefore, should diminish the number of @entity1 affected by recurrence at this site. In @entity1 with a palpable mass in the infraclavicular location, however, a high index of suspicion should be maintained. Workup should include additional breast imaging and needle biopsy prior to operation.
